Implantable electroacupuncture device and method for treating erectile dysfunction

ABSTRACT

An implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) treats an erectile dysfunction condition of a patient through application of stimulation pulses applied at a target tissue location underlying, or in the vicinity of, at least one of acupoints BL52, BL23 or GV4. The IEAD includes an IEAD housing having an electrode configuration thereon that includes at least two electrodes, and pulse generation circuitry located within the IEAD housing and electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes. The pulse generation circuitry is adapted to deliver EA stimulation pulses to the patient&#39;s body tissue at or near the target tissue location in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen, the stimulation regimen requiring that the stimulation session have a duration of T 3  minutes and a rate of occurrence of once every T 4  minutes, and wherein a ratio of T 3 /T 4  is no greater than 0.05.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/784,573, filed Mar. 4, 2013 and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 9,078,801, which application is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/598,582, filed Aug.29, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,965,511. U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/784,573 also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/606,995, filed Mar. 6, 2012; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/609,875, filed Mar. 12, 2012; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/672,257, filed Jul. 16, 2012; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/672,661, filed Jul. 17, 2012; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/673,254, filed Jul. 19, 2012; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/674,691, filed Jul. 23, 2012; andU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/676,275, filed Jul. 26, 2012.All of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirrespective entireties.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Erectile Dysfunction, or “impotence,” or “ED” for short, is theinability to achieve or maintain an erection adequate for satisfactorysexual performance.

In men ages 40 to 70 years old, the Massachusetts Male Aging Study foundthe prevalence of erectile dysfunction to be 52% (including mild,moderate, and severe dysfunction). See, Feldman, H. A., Goldstein, I.,Hatzichristou, D. G., Krane, R. J., & McKinlay, J. B. (1994). Impotenceand its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of theMassachusetts Male Aging Study. The Journal of Urology, 151(1), 54.

There is a strong positive correlation between ED and aging. Inaddition, there is a positive correlation between ED and hypertension,heart disease, diabetes, the associated medications, indexes of angerand depression, and an inverse correlation with serumdehydroepiandrosterone, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and anindex of dominant personality.

An alternative approach for treating erectile dysfunction, diabetes,high cholesterol and a host of other physiological conditions,illnesses, deficiencies and disorders is acupuncture, which includestraditional acupuncture and acupressure. Acupuncture has been practicedin Eastern civilizations (principally in China, but also in other Asiancountries) for at least 2500 years. It is still practiced todaythroughout many parts of the world, including the United States andEurope. A good summary of the history of acupuncture, and its potentialapplications may be found in Cheung, et al., “The Mechanism ofAcupuncture Therapy and Clinical Case Studies”, (Taylor & Francis,publisher) (2001) ISBN 0-415-27254-8, hereafter referred to as “Cheung,Mechanism of Acupuncture, 2001.” The Forward, as well as Chapters 1-3,5, 7, 8, 12 and 13 of Cheung, Mechanism of Acupuncture, 2001, areincorporated herein by reference.

Despite the practice in Eastern countries for over 2500 years, it wasnot until President Richard Nixon visited China (in 1972) thatacupuncture began to be accepted in the West, such as the United Statesand Europe. One of the reporters who accompanied Nixon during his visitto China, James Reston, from the New York Times, received acupuncture inChina for post-operative pain after undergoing an emergency appendectomyunder standard anesthesia. Reston experienced pain relief from theacupuncture and wrote about it in The New York Times. In 1973 theAmerican Internal Revenue Service allowed acupuncture to be deducted asa medical expense. Following Nixon's visit to China, and as immigrantsbegan flowing from China to Western countries, the demand foracupuncture increased steadily. Today, acupuncture therapy is viewed bymany as a viable alternative form of medical treatment, alongsideWestern therapies. Moreover, acupuncture treatment is now covered, atleast in part, by most insurance carriers. Further, payment foracupuncture services consumes a not insignificant portion of healthcareexpenditures in the U.S. and Europe. See, generally, Cheung, Mechanismof Acupuncture, 2001, vii.

Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that treats patients by insertionand manipulation of needles in the body at selected points. See, Novak,Patricia D. et al (1995). Dorland's Pocket Medical Dictionary (25thed.), Philadelphia: (W.B. Saunders Publisher), ISBN 0-7216-5738-9. Thelocations where the acupuncture needles are inserted are referred toherein as “acupuncture points” or simply just “acupoints”. The locationof acupoints in the human body has been developed over thousands ofyears of acupuncture practice, and maps showing the location ofacupoints in the human body are readily available in acupuncture booksor online. For example, see, “Acupuncture Points Map,” found online at:http://www.acupuncturehealing.org/acupuncture-points-map.html. Acupointsare typically identified by various letter/number combinations, e.g.,L6, S37. The maps that show the location of the acupoints may alsoidentify what condition, illness or deficiency the particular acupointaffects when manipulation of needles inserted at the acupoint isundertaken.

References to the acupoints in the literature are not always consistentwith respect to the format of the letter/number combination. Someacupoints are identified by a name only, e.g., Tongli. The same acupointmay be identified by others by the name followed with a letter/numbercombination placed in parenthesis, e.g., Tongli (HT5). Alternatively,the acupoint may be identified by its letter/number combination followedby its name, e.g., HT5 (Tongli). The first letter typically refers to abody organ, or meridian, or other tissue location associated with, oraffected by, that acupoint. However, usually only the letter is used inreferring to the acupoint, but not always. Thus, for example, theacupoint BL23 is the same as acupoint Bladder 23 which is the same asBL-23 which is the same as BL 23 which is the same as Shenshu. Forpurposes of this patent application, unless specifically statedotherwise, all references to acupoints that use the same name, or thesame first letter and the same number, and regardless of slightdifferences in second letters and formatting, are intended to refer tothe same acupoint.

An excellent reference book that identifies all of the traditionalacupoints within the human body is WHO STANDARD ACUPUNCTURE POINTLOCATIONS IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC REGION, published by the World HealthOrganization (WHO), Western Pacific Region, 2008 (updated and reprinted2009), ISBN 978 92 9061 248 7 (hereafter “WHO Standard Acupuncture PointLocations 2008”). The Table of Contents, Forward (page v-vi) and GeneralGuidelines for Acupuncture Point Locations (pages 1-21), as well aspages 111, 125, and 205 (which illustrate with particularity thelocation of acupoints BL52, BL23, and GV4) of the WHO StandardAcupuncture Point Locations 2008 are incorporated herein by reference.The relevant information from page 111, 125, and 205 of the WHO StandardAcupuncture Point Locations 2008 book is also presented herein as FIG.1A, and accompanying text.

While many in the scientific and medical community are highly criticalof the historical roots upon which acupuncture has developed, (e.g.,claiming that the existence of meridians, qi, yin and yang, and the likehave no scientific basis), see, e.g.,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture, few can refute the vast amountof successful clinical and other data, accumulated over centuries ofacupuncture practice, that shows needle manipulation applied at certainacupoints is quite effective.

The World Health Organization and the United States' National Institutesof Health (NIH) have stated that acupuncture can be effective in thetreatment of neurological conditions and pain. Reports from the USA'sNational Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), theAmerican Medical Association (AMA) and various USA government reportshave studied and commented on the efficacy of acupuncture. There isgeneral agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered bywell-trained practitioners using sterile needles, but not on itsefficacy as a medical procedure.

An early critic of acupuncture, Felix Mann, who was the author of thefirst comprehensive English language acupuncture textbook Acupuncture:The Ancient Chinese Art of Healing, stated that “The traditionalacupuncture points are no more real than the black spots a drunkard seesin front of his eyes.” Mann compared the meridians to the meridians oflongitude used in geography—an imaginary human construct. Mann, Felix(2000). Reinventing acupuncture: a new concept of ancient medicine.Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. pp. 14; 31. ISBN 0-7506-4857-0. Mannattempted to combine his medical knowledge with that of Chinese theory.In spite of his protestations about the theory, however, he apparentlybelieved there must be something to it, because he was fascinated by itand trained many people in the West with the parts of it he borrowed. Healso wrote many books on this subject. His legacy is that there is now acollege in London and a system of needling that is known as “MedicalAcupuncture”. Today this college trains doctors and Western medicalprofessionals only.

For purposes of this patent application, the arguments for and againstacupuncture are interesting, but not that relevant. What is important isthat a body of literature exists that identifies several acupointswithin the human body that, rightly or wrongly, have been identified ashaving an influence on, or are otherwise somehow related to, thetreatment of various physiological conditions, deficiencies orillnesses, including erectile dysfunction. With respect to theseacupoints, the facts speak for themselves. Either these points do or donot affect the conditions, deficiencies or illnesses with which theyhave been linked. The problem lies in trying to ascertain what is factfrom what is fiction. This problem is made more difficult whenconducting research on this topic because the insertion of needles, andthe manipulation of the needles once inserted, is more of an art than ascience, and results from such research become highly subjective. Whatis needed is a much more regimented approach for doing acupunctureresearch.

It should also be noted that other medical research, not associated withacupuncture research, has over the years identified nerves and otherlocations throughout a patient's body where the application ofelectrical stimulation produces a beneficial effect for the patient.Indeed, the entire field of neurostimulation deals with identifyinglocations in the body where electrical stimulation can be applied inorder to provide a therapeutic effect for a patient. For purposes ofthis patent application, such known locations within the body aretreated essentially the same as acupoints—they provide a “target”location where electrical stimulation may be applied to achieve abeneficial result, whether that beneficial result is to treat erectiledysfunction, reduce cholesterol or triglyceride levels, to treatcardiovascular disease, to treat mental illness, or to address someother issue associated with a disease or condition of the patient.

Returning to the discussion regarding acupuncture, some have proposedapplying moderate electrical stimulation at selected acupuncture pointsthrough needles that have been inserted at those points. See, e.g.,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroacupuncture. Such electricalstimulation is known as electroacupuncture (EA). According toAcupuncture Today, a trade journal for acupuncturists:“Electroacupuncture is quite similar to traditional acupuncture in thatthe same points are stimulated during treatment. As with traditionalacupuncture, needles are inserted on specific points along the body. Theneedles are then attached to a device that generates continuous electricpulses using small clips. These devices are used to adjust the frequencyand intensity of the impulse being delivered, depending on the conditionbeing treated. Electroacupuncture uses two needles at a time so that theimpulses can pass from one needle to the other. Several pairs of needlescan be stimulated simultaneously, usually for no more than 30 minutes ata time.” “Acupuncture Today: Electroacupuncture”. 2004 Feb. 1 (retrievedon-line 2006 Aug. 9 athttp://www.acupuncturetoday.com/abc/electroacupuncture.php).

U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,548, issued to Whitehurst et al., discloses use ofan implantable miniature neurostimulator, referred to as a“microstimulator,” that can be implanted into a desired tissue locationand used as a therapy for cavernous nerve stimulation. Themicrostimulator has a tubular shape, with electrodes at each end.

Other patents of Whitehurst et al. teach the use of this small,microstimulator, placed in other body tissue locations, including withinan opening extending through the skull into the brain, for the treatmentof a wide variety of conditions, disorders and diseases. See, e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 6,950,707 (obesity and eating disorders); U.S. Pat. No.7,003,352 (epilepsy by brain stimulation); U.S. Pat. No. 7,013,177 (painby brain stimulation); U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,279 (movement disordersthrough stimulation of Vagus nerve with both electrical stimulation anddrugs); U.S. Pat. No. 7,292,890 (Vagus nerve stimulation); U.S. Pat. No.6,735,745 (headache and/or facial pain); U.S. Pat. No. 7,440,806(diabetes by brain stimulation); U.S. Pat. No. 7,610,100(osteoarthritis); and U.S. Pat. No. 7,657,316 (headache by stimulatingmotor cortex of brain). The microstimulator patents either requireelectronics and battery in a coil on the outside of the body or a coilon the outside that enables the recharging of a rechargeable battery.The use of an outside coil, complex electronics, and the tubular shapeof the microstimulator have all limited the commercial feasibility ofthe microstimulator device and applications described in the Whitehurstpatents.

Techniques for using electrical devices, including external EA devices,for stimulating peripheral nerves and other body locations for treatmentof various maladies are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.4,535,784; 4,566,064; 5,195,517; 5,250,068; 5,251,637; 5,891,181;6,393,324; 6,006,134; 7,171,266; and 7,171,266. The methods and devicesdisclosed in these patents, however, typically utilize (i) largeimplantable stimulators having long leads that must be tunneled throughtissue over an extended distance to reach the desired stimulation site,(ii) external devices that must interface with implanted electrodes viapercutaneous leads or wires passing through the skin, or (iii)inefficient and power-consuming wireless transmission schemes. Suchdevices and methods are still far too invasive, or are ineffective, andthus are subject to the same limitations and concerns, as are thepreviously described electrical stimulation devices.

From the above, it is seen that there is a need in the art for a lessinvasive device and technique for electroacupuncture stimulation ofacupoints that does not require the continual use of needles insertedthrough the skin, or long insulated wires implanted or inserted intoblood vessels, for the purpose of treating erectile dysfunction.

SUMMARY

One characterization of the invention described herein is an implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) that treats erectile dysfunctionthrough application of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation pulsesapplied at a target tissue location. The target tissue locationcomprises tissue underlying, or in the vicinity of, at least one ofacupoints BL52, BL23 or GV4, all of which are located at the same levelas the inferior border of the spinous process of the second lumbarvertebra. The IEAD includes: (1) a small IEAD housing having anelectrode configuration thereon that includes at least two electrodes,(2) pulse generation circuitry located within the IEAD housing thatdelivers EA stimulation pulses to the patient's body tissue at at leastone of acupoints BL52, BL23 or GV4, (3) a primary battery also locatedwithin the IEAD housing that provides the operating power for the IEADto perform its intended function, and (4) a sensor located within theIEAD housing that is responsive to operating commands wirelesslycommunicated to the IEAD from a non-implanted location. These operatingcommands allow limited external control of the IEAD, such as ON/OFF andEA stimulation pulse amplitude adjustment.

In one preferred embodiment, the IEAD housing used as part of theinvention is coin-sized and -shaped, having a nominal diameter of 23 mm,and a thickness of only 2 to 3 mm.

One preferred embodiment provides a symmetrical electrode configurationon the housing of the IEAD. Such symmetrical electrode configurationincludes at least two electrodes, at least one of which is locatedsubstantially in the center of a first surface of the IEAD housing, andis referred to as a central electrode. The other electrode issymmetrically positioned around and at least 5 mm distant from thecenter of the central electrode, and is referred to as an annular orring electrode (or, in some instances, a circumscribing electrode). Thissymmetry between the central electrode and the annular electrodeadvantageously focuses the electric field, and hence the EA stimulationcurrent created by application of an EA stimulation pulse to theelectrodes, deep into the tissue below the central electrode, where thedesired EA stimulation occurs. Hence, when implanted, the first surfaceof the IEAD housing is faced inwardly into the patient's tissue below aspecified location on the surface of the patient's skin, e.g., below aselected one of acupoints BL52, BL23 or GV4, and a second surface of theIEAD housing, on the opposite side of the housing from the firstsurface, is faced outwardly to the patient's skin. One preferredembodiment of the IEAD housing uses one centrally located cathodeelectrode on the first surface of the IEAD housing, and one ring anodeelectrode located on a perimeter edge of a coin-sized and -shaped IEADhousing.

The pulse generation circuitry located within the IEAD housing iscoupled to the at least two electrodes. This pulse generation circuitryis configured to generate EA stimulation pulses in accordance with aspecified stimulation regimen. This stimulation regimen defines theduration and rate at which a stimulation session is applied to thepatient. The stimulation regimen requires that the stimulation sessionhave a duration of no more than T3 minutes and a rate of occurrence ofno more than once every T4 minutes. Advantageously, the duty cycle ofthe stimulation sessions, i.e., the ratio of T3/T4, is very low, nogreater than 0.05. A representative value for T3 is 30 minutes, and arepresentative value for T4 is 7 days. The individual EA stimulationpulses that occur within the stimulation session also have a duty cyclemeasured relative to the period (where the “period” is the time intervalequal to the inverse of the frequency or rate of the stimulation pulses)of no greater than 1%. A representative pulse width and frequency forthe EA stimulation pulses is 0.1 milliseconds, occurring at a pulse rateof 2 Hz.

The primary battery contained within the IEAD housing and electricallycoupled to the pulse generation circuitry has a nominal output voltageof 3 volts, and an internal battery impedance that is at least 5 ohms,and may be as high as 150 ohms or more. Advantageously, electroniccircuitry within the IEAD housing controls the value of theinstantaneous surge current that may be drawn from the battery in orderto prevent any large drops in the battery output voltage. Avoiding largedrops in the battery output voltage assures that the circuits within theIEAD will continue to operate as designed without failure. Being able touse a primary battery that has a relatively high internal impedanceallows the battery to be thinner, and thus allows the device to bethinner and more easily implanted. The higher internal impedance alsoopens the door to using relatively inexpensive commercially-availabledisc batteries as the primary battery within the IEAD, thereby greatlyenhancing the manufacturability of the IEAD and significantly loweringits cost.

Another characterization of the invention described herein is a firstmethod for treating erectile dysfunction in a patient using a leadless,coin-sized implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD). Such IEAD ispowered by a small disc battery having a specified nominal outputvoltage of about 3.0 volts, and having an internal impedance of at least5 ohms.

The IEAD used to practice this first method is configured, usingelectronic circuitry within the IEAD, to generate EA stimulation pulsesin accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. The EA stimulationpulses generated in accordance with this stimulation regimen are appliedto the patient's tissue through at least two electrodes located on thehousing of the IEAD. These two electrodes include at least one centralelectrode, located in the center of a bottom surface of the IEADhousing, and at least one annular electrode that surrounds the centralelectrode. The edge of the annular electrode closest to the centralelectrode is separated from the center of the central electrode by atleast 5 mm.

Using such an IEAD, the method for treating erectile dysfunctionprovided by this first method includes the steps of: (a) implanting theIEAD below the skin surface of the patient at or near a selected targettissue location, where the target tissue location comprises tissueunderlying, or in the vicinity of, at least one of acupoints BL52, BL23or GV4, with a bottom surface of the IEAD (the “bottom” surface of theIEAD is that surface on which the central electrode is placed) facingthe target tissue location; and (b) enabling the IEAD to providestimulation pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen.

The specified stimulation regimen, when enabled, provides a stimulationsession at a rate of one stimulation session every T4 minutes, with eachstimulation session having a duration of T3 minutes. The ratio of T3/T4must be no greater than 0.05. A preferred stimulation session time T3 is30 minutes, but T3 could be as short as 10 minutes or as long as 60minutes. A preferred time between stimulation sessions, T4, is 7 days,but it could be as short as 1 day or as long as 14 days, as needed, tosuit the needs of a particular patient. In some embodiments, the timeperiod between stimulation sessions, T4, may itself be a variable thatincreases from an initial value, T4(min), to a final value, T4(final),where T4(min) is a desired initial value, e.g., 1 day (1440 minutes),and T4(final) is a desired final value, e.g., 7 days (10,080 minutes).In such situation, i.e., where T4 initially varies, the change of T4between T4(min) to T4(final) follows a prescribed ramp-up sequence,e.g., starting at T4(min), T4 doubles after each stimulation sessionuntil the desired value of T4(final) is reached. Thus, for example, ifT4(min) is 1 day, and T4(final) is 7 days, the value of T4 may vary asfollows once the stimulation sessions begin: T4=1 day, 2 days, 4 daysand 7 days.

Yet another characterization of the invention described herein is asecond method for treating patients with erectile dysfunction. Thissecond method includes: (a) implanting a coin-sized electroacupuncture(EA) device in the patient just below the patient's skin at a targetstimulation site that includes tissue underlying, or in the vicinity of,acupoints BL52, BL23 and/or GV4; (b) enabling the EA device to generateEA stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, whereineach stimulation session comprises a series of EA stimulation pulses;and (c) delivering the EA stimulation pulses of each stimulation sessionto the target stimulation site through at least two electrodes attachedto an outside surface of the EA device. The duty cycle of thestimulation sessions is the ratio of T3/T4, where T3 is the duration inminutes (or some other time unit) of each stimulation session, and T4 isthe time in minutes (or some other time unit that corresponds to thesame time unit used to define T3) between stimulation sessions.

In a preferred application for this second method, the electrodesattached to the outside surface of the EA device are arranged in asymmetrical pattern. This symmetrical pattern of electrodesadvantageously concentrates, or focuses, the electric field emanatingfrom the electrode(s) downward into the tissue below the targetstimulation site to a location where the electroacupuncture stimulationis most effective.

Additionally, the invention described herein may be characterized as amethod of assembling an implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) foruse in treating erectile dysfunction, or some other similar abnormalityof a patient. The IEAD is assembled so as to reside in a round, thin,hermetically-sealed, coin-sized housing. An important feature of thecoin-size housing, and the method of assembly associated therewith, isthat the method electrically and thermally isolates a feed-through pinassembly radially passing through a wall of the coin-sized housing fromthe high temperatures associated with welding the housing closed tohermetically seal its contents. Such method of assembling includes thesteps of:

-   -   a. forming a coin-sized housing having a bottom case and a top        cover plate, the top cover plate being adapted to fit over the        bottom case, the bottom case being substantially round and        having a diameter D2 that is nominally 23 mm and a perimeter        side wall extending all the way around the perimeter of the        bottom case, the perimeter side wall having a height W2, wherein        the ratio of W2 to D2 is no greater than about 0.13;    -   b. forming a recess in one segment of the side wall, the recess        extending radially inwardly from the side wall to a depth D3,        and the recess having an opening in a bottom wall portion        thereof;    -   c. hermetically sealing a feed-through assembly in the opening        in the bottom of the recess, the feed-through assembly having a        feed-through pin that passes through the opening without        contacting the edges of the opening, a distal end of the pin        extending radially outward beyond the side wall of the bottom        case, and a proximal end of the feed-through pin extending        radially inward toward the center of the bottom case, whereby        the feed-through pin assembly is hermetically bonded to the        opening in the side wall at a location in the bottom of the        recess that is a distance D3 from the perimeter side wall,        thereby thermally isolating the feed-through assembly from the        high temperatures that occur at the perimeter side wall when the        cover plate is welded to the edge of the perimeter side wall;    -   d. attaching a central electrode to the thin, coin-sized housing        at a central location on the bottom outside surface of the        feed-through housing;    -   e. inserting an electronic circuit assembly, including a        battery, inside of the bottom case, and connecting the proximal        end of the feed-though pin to an output terminal of the        electronic circuit assembly, and electrically connecting the        bottom case to a reference terminal of the battery;    -   f. baking out the assembly to remove moisture, back filling with        a mixture of He/Ar inert gas, and then welding the top cover        plate to the edges of the side wall of the bottom case, thereby        hermetically sealing the electronic circuit assembly, including        the battery, inside of the thin, coin-sized IEAD housing;    -   g. leak testing the welded assembly to assure a desired level of        hermeticity has been achieved;    -   h. placing an insulating layer of non-conductive material around        the perimeter edge of the thin coin-sized housing, then placing        a circumscribing electrode over the insulating layer of        non-conductive material, and then electrically connecting the        distal end of the feed-through pin to the circumscribing        electrode; and    -   i. covering all external surface areas of the thin, coin-sized        housing with a layer of non-conductive material except for the        circumscribing electrode around the perimeter of the coin-sized        housing and the central electrode centrally located on the        bottom surface of the thin-coin-sized housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be more apparent from the following more particular descriptionthereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. Thesedrawings illustrate various embodiments of the principles describedherein and are part of the specification. The illustrated embodimentsare merely examples and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an Implantable Electroacupuncture Device(IEAD) made in accordance with the teachings presented herein.

FIG. 1A illustrates the location of acupoints BL52 (also sometimesreferred to as acupoint Zhishi), BL23 (also sometimes referred to asacupoint Shenshu) and GV4 (also sometimes referred to as acupointMingmen), any one of which, or any combination of which, may serve as atarget stimulation site(s) at which an IEAD may be implanted for thetreatment of erectile dysfunction.

FIG. 1B shows a sectional view of an IEAD implanted at a selected targetstimulation site, and illustrates the electric field gradient linescreated when an electroacupuncture (EA) pulse is applied to the tissuethrough the central electrode and ring electrode attached to the bottomsurface and perimeter edge, respectively, of the IEAD housing.

FIG. 2A shows a plan view of one surface of the IEAD housing illustratedin FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B shows a side view of the IEAD housing illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the other side, indicated as the “BackSide,” of the IEAD housing or case illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the IEAD of FIG. 3 taken along the lineA-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the IEAD housing, including afeed-through pin, before the electronic components are placed therein,and before being sealed with a cover plate.

FIG. 4A is a side view of the IEAD housing of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the empty IEAD housing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5A depicts a sectional view of the IEAD housing of FIG. 5 takenalong the section line A-A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5B shows an enlarged view or detail of the portion of FIG. 5A thatis encircled with the line B.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic assembly, including abattery, adapted to fit inside of the empty housing of FIG. 4 and FIG.5.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a plan view and side view, respectively, of theelectronic assembly shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the IEAD assembly, illustrating itsconstituent parts.

FIG. 7A schematically illustrates a few alternative electrodeconfigurations that may be used with the invention.

FIG. 8A illustrates a functional block diagram of the electroniccircuits used within an IEAD of the type described herein.

FIG. 8B shows a basic boost converter circuit configuration, and is usedto model how the impedance of the battery R_(BAT) can affect itsperformance.

FIG. 9A illustrates a typical voltage and current waveform for thecircuit of FIG. 8 when the battery impedance R_(BAT) is small.

FIG. 9B shows the voltage and current waveform for the circuit of FIG.8B when the battery impedance R_(BAT) is large.

FIG. 10 shows one preferred boost converter circuit and a functionalpulse generation circuit configuration for use within the IEAD.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate boost converter circuit configuration and afunctional pulse generation circuit for use within the IEAD.

FIG. 12 shows a refinement of the circuit configuration of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13A shows one preferred schematic configuration for an implantableelectroacupunture device (IEAD) that utilizes the boost converterconfiguration shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13B shows current and voltage waveforms associated with theoperation of the circuit shown in FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 shows another preferred schematic configuration for an IEADsimilar to that shown in FIG. 13A, but which uses an alternate outputcircuitry configuration for generating the stimulus pulses.

FIG. 14A depicts yet a further preferred schematic configuration for anIEAD similar to that shown in FIG. 13A or FIG. 14, but which includesadditional enhancements and circuit features.

FIGS. 14B and 14C show timing waveform diagrams that illustrate theoperation of the circuit of FIG. 14 before (FIG. 14B) and after (FIG.14C) the addition of a cascode stage to the IEAD circuitry that removessome undesirable transients from the leading edge of the stimulus pulse.

FIGS. 14D and 14E illustrate timing waveform diagrams that show theoperation of the circuit of FIG. 14 before (FIG. 14D) and after (FIG.14E) the addition of circuitry that addresses a delay when starting thecurrent regulator U3 for low amplitude stimulus pulses.

FIG. 15 shows a reverse trapezoidal waveform of the type that isgenerated by the pulse generation circuitry of the IEAD, and furtherillustrates one approach for achieving the desired reverse trapezoidalwaveform shape.

FIG. 15A shows a timing waveform diagram of representative EAstimulation pulses generated by the IEAD device during a stimulationsession.

FIG. 15B shows a timing waveform diagram of multiple stimulationsessions, and illustrates the waveforms on a more condensed time scale.

FIG. 16 shows a state diagram that depicts the various states the IEADmay assume as controlled by an external magnet.

Appendix A, submitted with Applicant's parent application(s) andincorporated by reference herein, illustrates some examples of alternatesymmetrical electrode configurations that may be used with an IEAD ofthe type described herein.

Appendix B, submitted with Applicant's parent application(s) andincorporated by reference herein, illustrates a few examples ofnon-symmetrical electrode configurations that may be used with an IEADmade in accordance with the teachings herein.

Appendix C, submitted with Applicant's parent application(s) andincorporated by reference herein, shows an example of the code used inthe micro-controller IC (e.g., U2 in FIG. 14) to control the basicoperation and programming of the IEAD, e.g., to turn the IEAD ON/OFF,adjust the amplitude of the stimulus pulse, and the like, using only anexternal magnet as an external communication element.

Throughout the drawings and appendices, identical reference numbersdesignate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Disclosed and claimed herein is an implantable, self-contained, leadlesselectroacupuncture (EA) device having at least two electrode contactsmounted on the surface of its housing. The EA device disclosed herein isadapted to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in a patient. In onepreferred embodiment, the electrodes on the surface of the EA deviceinclude a central cathode electrode on a bottom side of the housing, andan annular anode electrode that surrounds the cathode. In anotherpreferred embodiment, the anode annular electrode is a ring electrodeplaced around the perimeter edge of the coin-shaped housing.

The EA device is leadless. This means there are no leads or electrodesat the distal end of leads (common with most implantable electricalstimulators) that have to be positioned and anchored at a desiredstimulation site. Also, because there are no leads, no tunneling throughbody tissue or blood vessels is required in order to provide a path forthe leads to return and be connected to a tissue stimulator (also commonwith most electrical stimulators).

The EA device is adapted to be implanted through a very small incision,e.g., less than 2-3 cm in length, directly adjacent to a selected targetstimulation site, e.g., an acupuncture site (“acupoint”) known to affectan erectile dysfunction condition of a patient.

The EA device is easy to implant. Also, most embodiments aresymmetrical. This means that there is no way that it can be implantedincorrectly (unless the physician puts it in up-side-down, which wouldbe difficult to do given the markings on its case). Once an incision hasbeen made and an implant pocket has been prepared by skilled medicalpersonnel, it is almost as easy as sliding a coin into a slot. Suchimplantation can usually be completed in less than 10 minutes in anoutpatient setting. Only local anesthesia need be used. When doneproperly, no major or significant complications should occur during orafter the implant procedure. The EA device can also be easily andquickly explanted, if needed.

The EA device is self-contained. It includes a primary battery toprovide its operating power. It includes all of the circuitry it needs,in addition to the battery, to allow it to perform its intended functionfor several years. Once implanted, the patient will not even know it isthere, except for a slight tingling that may be felt when the device isdelivering stimulus pulses during a stimulation session. Also, onceimplanted, the patient can just forget about it. There are nocomplicated user instructions that must be followed. Just turn it on. Nomaintenance is needed. Moreover, should the patient want to disable theEA device, i.e., turn it OFF, or change stimulus intensity, he or shecan do so using, e.g., an external magnet.

The EA device can operate for several years because it is designed to bevery efficient. Stimulation pulses applied by the EA device at aselected target stimulation site, e.g., a specified acupoint, throughits electrodes formed on its case are applied at a very low duty cyclein accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. The stimulationregimen applies EA stimulation during a stimulation session that lastsat least 10 minutes, typically 30 minutes, and rarely longer than 60minutes. These stimulation sessions, however, occur at a very low dutycycle. In one preferred treatment regimen, for example, a stimulationsession having a duration of 30 minutes is applied to the patient justonce a week. The stimulation regimen, and the selected acupoint at whichthe stimulation is applied, are designed and selected to provideefficient and effective EA stimulation for the treatment of thepatient's erectile dysfunction.

The EA device is, compared to most implantable medical devices,relatively easy to manufacture and uses few components. This not onlyenhances the reliability of the device, but keeps the manufacturingcosts low, which in turn allows the device to be more affordable to thepatient. One key feature included in the mechanical design of the EAdevice is the use of a radial feed-through assembly to connect theelectrical circuitry inside of its housing to one of the electrodes onthe outside of the housing. The design of this radial feed-through pinassembly greatly simplifies the manufacturing process. The processplaces the temperature sensitive hermetic bonds used in the assembly—thebond between a pin and an insulator and the bond between the insulatorand the case wall—away from the perimeter of the housing as the housingis hermetically sealed at the perimeter with a high temperature laserwelding process, thus preserving the integrity of the hermetic bondsthat are part of the feed-through assembly.

In operation, the EA device is safe to use. There are no horrificfailure modes that could occur. Because it operates at a very low dutycycle (i.e., it is OFF much, much more than it is ON), it generateslittle heat. Even when ON, the amount of heat it generates is not much,less than 1 mW, and is readily dissipated. Should a component or circuitinside of the EA device fail, the device will simply stop working. Ifneeded, the EA device can then be easily explanted.

Another key feature included in the design of the EA device is the useof a commercially-available battery as its primary power source. Small,thin, disc-shaped batteries, also known as “coin cells,” are quitecommon and readily available for use with most modern electronicdevices. Such batteries come in many sizes, and use variousconfigurations and materials. However, insofar as the inventors orApplicant are aware, such batteries have never been used in implantablemedical devices previously. This is because their internal impedance is,or has always thought to have been, much too high for such batteries tobe of practical use within an implantable medical device where powerconsumption must be carefully monitored and managed so that the device'sbattery will last as long as possible, and so that dips in the batteryoutput voltage (caused by any sudden surge in instantaneous batterycurrent) do not occur that could compromise the performance of thedevice. Furthermore, the energy requirements of other active implantabletherapies are far greater than can be provided by such coin cellswithout frequent replacement.

The EA device disclosed herein advantageously employs power-monitoringand power-managing circuits that prevent any sudden surges in batteryinstantaneous current, or the resulting drops in battery output voltage,from ever occurring, thereby allowing a whole family ofcommercially-available, very thin, high-output-impedance, relatively lowcapacity, small disc batteries (or “coin cells”) to be used as the EAdevice's primary battery without compromising the EA device'sperformance. As a result, instead of specifying that the EA device'sbattery must have a high capacity, e.g., greater than 200 mAh, with aninternal impedance of, e.g., less than 5 ohms, which would eitherrequire a thicker battery and/or preclude the use ofcommercially-available coin-cell batteries, the EA device of the presentinvention can readily employ a battery having a relatively low capacity,e.g., less than 60 mAh, and a high battery impedance, e.g., greater than5 ohms.

Moreover, the power-monitoring, power-managing, as well as the pulsegeneration, and control circuits used within the EA device arerelatively simple in design, and may be readily fashioned fromcommercially-available integrated circuits (IC's) orapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's), supplemented withdiscrete components, as needed. In other words, the electronic circuitsemployed within the EA device need not be complex nor expensive, but aresimple and inexpensive, thereby making it easier to manufacture and toprovide it to patients at an affordable cost.

A preferred application for an EA device made in accordance with theteachings presented herein is to treat erectile dysfunction. Thus, thedescription that follows describes in much more detail an EA device thatis especially suited to be used to treat erectile dysfunction. However,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to treatingonly erectile dysfunction.

Definitions

As used herein, “annular”, “circumferential”, “circumscribing”,“surrounding” or similar terms used to describe an electrode orelectrode array, or electrodes or electrode arrays, (where the phrase“electrode or electrode array,” or “electrodes or electrode arrays,” isalso referred to herein as “electrode/array,” or “electrodes/arrays,”respectively) refers to an electrode/array shape or configuration thatsurrounds or encompasses a point or object, such as another electrode,without limiting the shape of the electrode/array or electrodes/arraysto be circular or round. In other words, an “annular” electrode/array(or a “circumferential” electrode/array, or a “circumscribing”electrode/array, or a “surrounding” electrode/array), as used herein,may be many shapes, such as oval, polygonal, starry, wavy, and the like,including round or circular.

“Nominal” or “about” when used with a mechanical dimension, e.g., anominal diameter of 23 mm, means that there is a tolerance associatedwith that dimension of no more than plus or minus (+/−) 5%. Thus, adimension that is nominally 23 mm means a dimension of 23 mm+/−1.15 mm(0.05×23 mm=1.15 mm). “Nominal” when used to specify a battery voltageis the voltage by which the battery is specified and sold. It is thevoltage you expect to get from the battery under typical conditions, andit is based on the battery cell's chemistry. Most fresh batteries willproduce a voltage slightly more than their nominal voltage. For example,a new nominal 3 volt lithium coin-sized battery will measure more than3.0 volts, e.g., up to 3.6 volts under the right conditions. Sincetemperature affects chemical reactions, a fresh warm battery will have agreater maximum voltage than a cold one. For example, as used herein, a“nominal 3 volt” battery voltage is a voltage that may be as high as 3.6volts when the battery is brand new, but is typically between 2.7 voltsand 3.4 volts, depending upon the load applied to the battery (i.e., howmuch current is being drawn from the battery) when the measurement ismade and how long the battery has been in use.

As explained in more detail below, the essence of the inventionrecognizes that an electroacupunture modulation scheme need not becontinuous, thereby allowing the implanted EA device to use a small,high density, power source to provide such non-continuous EA modulation.(Here, it should be noted that “EA modulation,” as that phrase is usedherein, is the application of electrical stimulation pulses, at lowintensities, low frequencies and low duty cycles, to at least one of thetarget stimulation sites, e.g., an acupuncture site that has beenidentified as affecting a particular condition, e.g., erectiledysfunction, of the patient. As a result, the EA device can be verysmall. And, because the electrodes form an integral part of the housingof the EA device, the EA device may thus be implanted directly at (orvery near to) the desired target tissue location, e.g., the targetstimulation site, such as the target acupoint.

In summary, and as explained more fully below in conjunction with thedescription of the treatment method for treating erectile dysfunction,the basic approach of EA stimulation includes: (1) identify anacupoint(s) or other target stimulation site that may be used to treator mediate the particular illness, condition or deficiency that hasmanifest itself in the patient, e.g., erectile dysfunction; (2) implantan EA device, made as described herein, so that its electrodes arelocated to be near or on the identified acupoint(s) or other targetstimulation site; (3) apply EA modulation, having a low intensity, lowfrequency, and low duty cycle through the electrode(s) of the EA deviceso that electrical stimulation pulses flow through the tissue at thetarget stimulation site following a prescribed stimulation regimen overseveral weeks or months or years. At any time during this EA stimulationregimen, the patient's illness, condition or deficiency may be evaluatedand, as necessary, the parameters of the EA modulation applied duringthe EA stimulation regimen may be adjusted or “tweaked” in order toimprove the results obtained from the EA modulation.

Conditions Treated

Erectile Dysfunction, or “impotence,” or “ED” for short, is theinability to achieve or maintain an erection adequate for satisfactorysexual performance. It may occur at any age but becomes increasinglymore frequent as men age.

Symptoms of ED may include persistent trouble getting or maintaining anerection, or persistent reduced sexual arousal. The soft rule defining“persistence” in this context is three or more months.

The mechanisms for erection are fairly complex: A sensory stimulustriggers the brain to send nerve impulses down through the spinal cord.These signals trigger the release of a chemical messenger that causesthe vessels supplying blood to the penis to dilate. The rod-shapedspongy tissues (corpora cavernosa) in the penis then fill with blood andexpand, pressing against the veins that normally allow blood to drainfrom the penis, thus producing an erection. Interference with any partof this process—whether physiological or psychological—may causeerectile dysfunction. See, “Johns Hopkins Health Alerts.” Johns HopkinsHealth Alerts. Johns Hopkins. 17 Jan. 2013<http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/symptoms_remedies/erectile_dysfunction/99-1.html>.

The cause of erectile dysfunction can arise from a number of things. Thefollowing conditions, changes, or abnormalities may be the source of ED:(i) emotional and psychological difficulties such as guilt or anxiety(especially performance anxiety in which fear of the inability tomaintain an erection is a self-fulfilling prophecy); (ii) conditionsaffecting the brain decreasing libido or the use of drugs which act onthe brain such as antidepressants and alcohol; (iii) chronic illnessessuch as heart, lung, kidney or liver disease and certain kinds ofcancers; (iv) hormonal disturbances causing a decrease in libidoincluding diminished testosterone levels, elevated prolactin (due to apituitary tumor) and hyper- or hypo-thyroidism; (v) brain disorders notaffecting libido but having other neurological effect on sexualfunction; (vi) spinal cord disorders; (vii) damage to the peripheralnerves due to diabetes mellitus or pelvic surgery; (viii) peripheralvascular disease; (ix) fatigue; and (x) advancing age. Most cases of EDare physically caused, though some may arise from psychologicalinfluences.

Doctors suggest reducing alcoholic beverage intake, not smoking, andspeaking with a therapist about improving communication with one'ssexual partner as means to improve an ED condition.

Although the occasional inability to maintain an erection is common andnot a sign of a chronic problem, a doctor should be consulted if thecondition persists. Treatment depends upon the underlying cause oferectile dysfunction.

Current treatments for ED include (i) avoiding the use of certain drugs(nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs); (ii) evaluating and possiblychanging prescriptions used to manage other conditions; (iii) obtainingpsychological counseling, if indicated; (iv) receiving testosteroneinjections or applying testosterone skin patches if blood testosteronelevels are low; (v) receiving treatment for hyper- or hypo-thyroidism,if indicated; (vi) undergoing Bromocriptine therapy where prolactinlevels are high; (vii) taking medications that specificially target EDtreatment, e.g., Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), or Cialis(tadalafil); (viii) using a special vaccum device to pull blood into thecorpora cavernosa; (ix) self-administering injections of alprostadil, avasodilator drug; (x) receiving surgical implants using either aninflatable device or a flexible rod; and (xi) in rare cases, undergoingvascular surgery to improve blood flow to the penis.

Complications of ED may include an unsatisfactory sex life, stress oranxiety, embarrassment or low self-esteem, marital or relationshipproblems, and the inability to impregnate one's partner.

Locations Stimulated and Stimulation Paradigms/Regimens

Applicant has identified three acupoints most responsible in acupuncturestudies and most ideal for application of its technological approach totreat erectile dysfunction. These acupoints are BL52, BL23, and/or GV4.

The acupoint BL52, or “Zhishi,” is located in the lumbar region, at thesame level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the secondlumbar vertebra (L2), approximately 3 inches lateral to the posteriormedial line and 1.5 inches lateral to BL23. See, WHO page 125. See also,FIG. 1A.

Acupoint BL52 is identified herein as BL52. Note that the acupoint maybe identified by other similar names within Traditional Chinese Medicinesuch as “ChihShih” or “BL 52” or “UB 52.” The Chinese meridianassociated with the acupoint name is Bladder. Similarly, the other twoacupoints may be identified by numerous letter combinations or namesdeveloped by the 2500 year history of acupuncture.

The acupoint BL23, or “Shenshu,” is located in the lumbar region at thesame level as the inferior border of the spinous process of the secondlumbar vertebra (L2), approximately 1.5 inches lateral to the posteriormedian line, lateral and inferior to the spinous process of the secondlumbar vertebra. It is also called “UB23,” but will be identified hereinas “BL23.” The meridian or organ associated with the acupoint name isalso Bladder. See, WHO page 111. See also, FIG. 1A.

The acupoint GV4, or “Mingmen,” is located in the lumbar region, in thedepression inferior to the spinous process of the second lumber vertebra(L2), on the posterior median line. The meridian associated with itsname is Governing Vessel. See, WHO page 205. See also, FIG. 1A.

Note, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, that each of the acupoints BL52, BL23,and GV4 are located at the same level as the inferior border of thespinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2).

Applicant has identified these three acupoints—BL52, BL23 and GV4—basedupon a thorough evaluation of successful traditional acupuncture thathas been undertaken for improvement in erectile dysfunction. Suchevaluation, described in more detail below, identifies significantclinical work utilizing traditional manual acupuncture at at least oneof the three acupoints identified above, among others. From an analysisof the reports that document the use of traditional acupuncture for thetreatment of ED, Applicant has been able to rule out some acupointsutilized, presuming they are inactive or insignificant in the context oferectile dysfunction.

In two studies conducted by Engelhardt et al. in Austria, manualacupuncture was used to treat erectile dysfunction and compared againsta control group which received acupuncture at acupoints not believed toaffect the condition. See, Engelhardt, P. F., Daha, L. K., Zils, T.,Simak, R. König, K., & Pflüger, H. (2003). Acupuncture in the treatmentof psychogenic erectile dysfunction: first results of a prospectiverandomized placebo-controlled study. International journal of impotenceresearch, 15(5), 343-346 (hereafter, “Engelhardt 2003”); Daha, L. K.,Lazar, D., Engelhardt, P. F., Simak, R., & Pflüger, H. (2007).Acupuncture Treatment of Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction: A Four-YearFollow-Up Study. Current Urology, 1(1), 39-41 (hereafter, “Engelhardt2007”).

The acupoints utilized include one of Applicant's identified acupoints:BL23. Other acupoints used in the reported study were KI6, KI27, CV4,CV6, SI4, and SP6. Because the “other” acupoints or their underlyingnerves are either missing from another significant study or because theyare included in an otherwise comparable study with poor results, theyhave been excluded from the acupoints identified for use with thepresent invention. See, supra.

In 13 of the 19 patients randomized to the treatment group, asatisfactory result was found in the short term. At the four year point,47% of the 15 patients available for follow-up said that they did notneed further treatment and considered themselves cured. However, thefive patients who did not show improvement in the short term were evenless satisfied at the four year point. See, supra.

In another significant study for which 60 patients with erectiledysfunction were treated with acupuncture, two of Applicant's threedisclosed acupoints were utilized. See, Zhang, Y., & Niu, H. (2011).Influence of acupuncture on serum hormone of erectile dysfunctionpatients. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 9(4), 223-225(hereafter, “Zhang, 2011”). In that study, three hormones known toimpact erectile function were measured: testosterone levels, prolactin,and estradiol (which is the least important of the three). The levels ofall three hormones went in the direction of better function. Inparticular, the median testosterone level increased from 149 ng/L to 694ng/L where a normal male adult testosterone level is between 240 ng/Land 950 ng/L. Thus, the increase observed put the patients well withinnormal range for testosterone in the body.

In four other studies; at least one acupoint disclosed by Applicant wasutilized and successfully impacted the condition. See, Hong, J.,Li-rong, 1, & Qian, Z. (2005). Treatment of Impotence byPoint-through-point Acupuncture plus Tuina. Journal of Acupuncture andTuina Science, 3(5), 46-47 (hereafter, “Hong 2005”); Yang Jie-bin.(2004). Selections of Proven Medical Records in Acupuncture: Park V.Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2(5), 3-5 (hereafter “Yang2004”); Gao, Y. (2011). Clinical observation on combined acupuncture andherbs in treating impotence. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science,9(4), 230-232 (hereafter, “Gao 2011”); Chen, M., Cheng, L., & Wang, W.(2011). Observation on therapeutic effects of acupuncture for erectiledysfunction. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 9(4). 226-229(hereafter “Chen 2011”).

Yet additional studies have reported a successful impact on ED whenacupoints BL23 and GV4 are stimulated using traditional acupuncture,see, Hong 2005, Yang 2004, Gao 2011, Chen 2011, and Zhang 2011. Anotherstudy reports utilizing acupoint BL52 in addition to other acupoints topositively impact erectile dysfunction.

Two studies utilizing adjunctive points similar to many utilized in theaforementioned successful studies did not report any significantimprovements in ED. See, Kho, H. G., Sweep, C. G. J., Chen, X.,Rabsztyn, P. R. I., & Meuleman, E. J. H. (1999). The use of acupuncturein the treatment of erectile dysfunction. International journal ofimpotence research, 11(1), 41-46 (hereafter, “Kho 1999”); Aydin, S.,Ercan, M.,

askurlu, T., Tasçi, A. Í., Karaman, Í., Odabas, Ö., . . . & Sevin, G.(1997). Acupuncture and hypnotic suggestions in the treatment ofnon-organic male sexual dysfunction. Scandinavian journal of urology andnephrology. 31(3), 271-274 (hereafter, “Aydin 1997”).

The acupoints utilized in the Kho study were CV4, GV20, SP6, KI3, andHT7, many of which are indicated by the general literature oftraditional Chinese medicine and are utilized in the successful studiespreviously mentioned but were not successful here. Similarly, acupointsST30, ST36, K6, CV4, and CV6 were only marginally successful in theimprovement of ED in the study conducted by Aydin et al. Thus, boththose acupoints and other acupoints overlying the same nerves werededuced by the inventors herein to be either inactive or insignificantcontributors to the mechanism for improvement of ED.

Given that most of the acupuncture work on which the inventors hereinhave based their invention has been in the use of manual acupuncture,the appropriate electrical parameters to be used for the presentinvention (electroacupuncture using an IEAD) are deduced from anassumption that manual acupuncture (and particular descriptions or kindsof manual acupuncture) can be replicated by low-frequency, low-intensity(low duty cycle) stimulation.

In an article published in the journal, Human Brain Mapping, asignificant crossover was reported regarding the areas of the brainactivated by manual acupuncture and both low and high-frequencyelectroacupuncture. See, Napadow, V., Makris, N., Liu, J., Kettner, N.W., Kwong, K. K., & Hui, K. K. (2004). Effects of electroacupunctureversus manual acupuncture on the human brain as measured by fMRI. Humanbrain mapping, 24(3), 193-205.

Additionally, it was found that electroacupuncture, particularly at alow-frequency, brought about more widespread fMRI signal increase thanmanual acupuncture. See, supra.

In this case, three studies utilizing the selected acupoints alsoutilized manual acupuncture described as “twirling reinforcing method,”which means that the needle is twirled. See, Yang 2004; Chen 2011; ChenM, Cheng L. (2004) Clinical Observation of 54 Cases of FunctionalImpotence Treated by Acupuncture. 19(110: 62-62. Chinese with EnglishTranslation (hereafter, “Chen 2004”). Journal of Henan University ofChinese Medicine. In other texts, such a method is sometimes furtherdescribed by the number of times the needle is twirled within a minute.The inventors herein believe that this twirling or reinforcement methodis similar to the use of low-frequency and low-intensityelectroacupuncture.

In addition to the few cases utilizing the twirling method of manualacupuncture, one of the studies upon which the inventors herein rely forsupporting their selection of acupoints or stimulation locations to beused with their IEAD, utilizes low-frequency electroacupuncture. See,Gao 2011. While the electrical patterns are not spelled out, the notionof low-frequency EA is consistent with the inventors' chosen electricalparameters.

Not one of the acupuncture studies on which the inventors herein relysuggests that high-frequency electrical stimulation will or should berequired to produce the intended results.

Thus, in selecting stimulation parameters that produce electricalstimuli similar to that produced in the successful manual acupuncturestudies, and that is compatible with the inventor's small-sized device,or IEAD, the inventors have elected to use electrical parameters definedby a low frequency (i.e. 1 Hz to about 15 Hz), low intensity (1 mA toabout 10 mA pulse stimulus amplitude) at a pulse width from about 0.5 msto about 2.0 ms.

In summary, the duration and rate of occurrence of the stimulus pulsesapplied by the inventor's IEAD are not arbitrary nor chosen haphazardlyor by guesswork. Rather these parameters have been chosen after acareful examination of the reports of successful manual acupuncturestudies. The duration of the stimulation sessions should be as short astwenty minutes and as long as about sixty minutes. A common duration ofa stimulation session is thirty minutes. The rate of occurrence of thestimulation sessions should be as frequent as once daily and asinfrequent as once weekly.

Mechanical Design

A perspective view of one preferred embodiment of an implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) 100 that may be used for the purposesdescribed herein is shown in FIG. 1. The IEAD 100 may also sometimes bereferred to as an implantable electroacupuncture stimulator (IEAS). Asseen in FIG. 1, the IEAD 100 has the appearance of a disc or coin,having a front side 106, a back side 102 (not visible in FIG. 1) and anedge side 104.

As used herein, the “front” side of the IEAD 100 is the side that ispositioned so as to face the target stimulation point (e.g., the desiredacupoint) where EA stimulation is to be applied when the IEAD isimplanted. The front side 106 may also be referred to herein as the“cathode side” 106. The “back” side 102 is the side opposite the frontside and is the side farthest away from the target stimulation pointwhen the IEAD is implanted. The “back” side 102 may also be referred toherein as the “skin” side 102. The “edge” of the IEAD is the side thatconnects or joins the front side to the back side. In FIG. 1, the IEAD100 is oriented to show the front side 106 and a portion of the edgeside 104.

Many of the features associated with the mechanical design of the IEAD100 shown in FIG. 1 are the subject of a prior U.S. Provisional PatentApplication, entitled “Radial Feed-Through Packaging for An ImplantableElectroacupuncture Device”, Application No. 61/676,275, filed 26 Jul.2012, which application is incorporated here by reference.

It should be noted here that throughout this application, the terms IEAD100, IEAD housing 100, bottom case 124, can 124, or IEAD case 124, orsimilar terms, are used to describe the housing structure of the EAdevice. In some instances it may appear these terms are usedinterchangeably. However, the context should dictate what is meant bythese terms. As the drawings illustrate, particularly FIG. 7, there is abottom case 124 that comprises the “can” or “container” wherein thecomponents of the IEAD 100 are first placed and assembled duringmanufacture of the IEAD 100. When all of the components are assembledand placed within the bottom case 124, a cover plate 122 is welded tothe bottom case 124 to form the hermetically-sealed housing of the IEAD.The cathode electrode 110 is attached to the outside of the bottom case124 (which is the front side 106 of the device), and the ring anodeelectrode 120 is attached, along with its insulating layer 129, aroundthe perimeter edge 104 of the bottom case 124. Finally, a layer ofsilicone molding 125 covers the IEAD housing except for the outsidesurfaces of the anode ring electrode and the cathode electrode.

The embodiment of the IEAD 100 shown in FIG. 1 utilizes two electrodes,a cathode electrode 110 that is centrally positioned on the front side106 of the IEAD 100, and an anode electrode 120. The anode electrode 120is a ring electrode that fits around the perimeter edge 104 of the IEAD100. Not visible in FIG. 1, but which is described hereinafter inconnection with the description of FIG. 7, is a layer of insulatingmaterial 129 that electrically insulates the anode ring electrode 120from the perimeter edge 104 of the housing or case 124.

Not visible in FIG. 1, but a key feature of the mechanical design of theIEAD 100, is the manner in which an electrical connection is establishedbetween the ring electrode 120 and electronic circuitry carried insideof the IEAD 100. This electrical connection is established using aradial feed-through pin that fits within a recess formed in a segment ofthe edge of the case 124, as explained more fully below in connectionwith the description of FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B and 7.

In contrast to the feed-through pin that establishes electrical contactwith the anode electrode, electrical connection with the cathodeelectrode 110 is established simply by forming or attaching the cathodeelectrode 110 to the front surface 106 of the IEAD case 124. In order toprevent the entire case 124 from functioning as the cathode (which isdone to better control the electric fields established between the anodeand cathode electrodes), the entire IEAD housing is covered in a layerof silicone molding 125 (see FIG. 7), except for the outside surface ofthe anode ring electrode 120 and the cathode electrode 110.

The advantage of using a central cathode electrode and a ring anodeelectrode is described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/672,257, filed 6 Mar. 2012, entitled “Electrode Configuration forImplantable Electroacupuncture Device”, which application isincorporated herein by reference. One significant advantage of thiselectrode configuration is that it is symmetrical. That is, whenimplanted, the surgeon or other medical personnel performing the implantprocedure, need only assure that the cathode side of the IEAD 100, which(for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7) is the front side of the device,faces the target tissue location that is to be stimulated. In addition,the IEAD must be implanted over the desired acupoint, or other tissuelocation, that is intended to receive the electroacupuncture (EA)stimulation. The orientation of the IEAD 100 is otherwise not important.

FIG. 1A illustrates the location of acupoints BL23, BL52 and GV4, theacupoints identified herein that serve as a target stimulation site atwhich an IEAD may be implanted for the treatment of an erectiledysfunction condition. As seen in FIG. 1A, these three acupoints residein the lumbar region, at the same level as the inferior border of thespinous process of the second lumbar vertebra (L2), about 1.5 B-cunlateral to the posterior median line. The measurement system using unitsof “B-cun” is a proportional bone (skeletal) measurement systemdescribed in the WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations 2008 referencebook cited herein. See, in particular, pages 2, 11-13 and 20-21 of thatreference book, especially FIG. 20, on page 20, and FIG. 21, on page 21(which WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations 2008 reference book isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety). However, for anaverage-sized adult, a measurement of 1.5 B-cun may be considered to beapproximately 1.5 inches.

An implanted IEAD 100 is illustrated generally in FIG. 1B, which shows asectional view of body tissue 80 of the patient wherein a representativeacupoint 90 has been identified that is to receive acupuncture treatment(in this case electroacupuncture, or EA, treatment). An incision (notshown in FIG. 1B) is made into the body tissue 80 a short distance,e.g., 10-15 mm, away from the acupoint 90. As necessary, the surgeon mayform a pocket under the skin at the acupoint location. The IEAD 100,with its top side 102 being closest to the skin, is then carefullyinserted through the incision into the pocket so that the center of theIEAD is located under the acupoint 90 on the skin surface. With the IEAD100 in place, the incision is sewn or otherwise closed, leaving the IEAD100 under the skin 80 at the location of the acupoint 90 whereelectroacupuncture (EA) stimulation is desired.

In this regard, it should be noted that while the target stimulationpoint is generally identified by an “acupoint,” which is typically shownin drawings and diagrams as residing on the surface of the skin, thesurface of the skin is not the actual target stimulation point. Rather,whether such stimulation comprises manual manipulation of a needleinserted through the skin at the location on the skin surface identifiedas an “acupoint”, or whether such stimulation comprises electricalstimulation applied through an electrical field oriented to causestimulation current to flow through the tissue at a prescribed depthbelow the acupoint location on the skin surface, the actual targettissue point to be stimulated is located beneath the skin at a depth d2below or underlying the acupoint 90, where the depth d2 varies dependingon the particular acupoint location. When stimulation is applied at thetarget tissue point, such stimulation is effective at treating aselected condition of the patient, e.g., erectile dysfunction, becausethere is something in the tissue at that target location, or in thevicinity of that target location, such as a nerve, a tendon, a muscle,or other type of tissue, that responds to the applied stimulation in amanner that contributes favorably to the treatment of the conditionexperienced by the patient.

FIG. 1B illustrates a sectional view of the IEAD 100 implanted so as tobe centrally located under the skin at the selected acupoint 90, andaligned with an acupoint axis line 92. Usually, for most patients, theIEAD 100 is implanted at a depth d1 of approximately 2-4 mm under theskin. The top (or “back”) side 102 of the IEAD is nearest to the skin 80of the patient. The bottom (or “cathode”) side 106 of the IEAD, which isthe side on which the central cathode electrode 110 resides, is farthestfrom the skin. Because the cathode electrode 110 is centered on thebottom of the IEAD, and because the IEAD 100 is implanted so as to becentered under the location on the skin where the acupoint 90 islocated, the cathode 110 is also centered over the acupoint axis line92.

FIG. 1B further illustrates the electric field gradient lines 88 thatare created in the body tissue 86 surrounding the acupoint 90 and theacupoint axis line 92. (Note: for purposes herein, when reference ismade to providing EA stimulation at a specified acupoint, it isunderstood that the EA stimulation is provided at a depth ofapproximately d2 below the location on the skin surface where theacupoint is indicated as being located.) As seen in FIG. 1B, theelectric field gradient lines are strongest along a line that coincideswith, or is near to, the acupoint axis line 92. It is thus seen that oneof the main advantages of using a symmetrical electrode configurationthat includes a centrally located electrode surrounded by an annularelectrode is that the precise orientation of the IEAD within its implantlocation is not important. So long as one electrode is centered over thedesired target location, and the other electrode surrounds the firstelectrode (e.g., as an annular electrode), a strong electric fieldgradient is created that is aligned with the acupoint axis line. Thiscauses the EA stimulation current to flow along (or very near) theacupoint axis line 92, and will result in the desired EA stimulation inthe tissue at a depth d2 below the acupoint location indicated on theskin.

FIG. 2A shows a plan view of the “cathode” (or “front”) side 106 of theIEAD 100. As seen in FIG. 2A, the cathode electrode 110 appears as acircular electrode, centered on the front side, having a diameter D1.The IEAD housing has a diameter D2 and an overall thickness or width W2.For the preferred embodiment shown in these figures, D1 is about 4 mm,D2 is about 23 mm and W2 is a little over 2 mm (2.2 mm).

FIG. 2B shows a side view of the IEAD 100. The ring anode electrode 120,best seen in FIG. 2B, has a width W1 of about 1.0 mm, or approximately ½of the width W2 of the IEAD.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the “back” (or “skin”) side 102 of the IEAD100. As will be evident from subsequent figure descriptions, e.g., FIGS.5A and 5B, the back side 102 of the IEAD 100 comprises a cover plate 122that is welded in place once the bottom case 124 has all of theelectronic circuitry, and other components, placed inside of thehousing.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the IEAD 100 of FIG. 1 taken along theline A-A of FIG. 3. Visible in this sectional view is the feed-throughpin 130, including the distal end of the feed-through pin 130 attachedto the ring anode electrode 120. Also visible in this section view is anelectronic assembly 133 on which various electronic components aremounted, including a disc-shaped battery 132. FIG. 3A furtherillustrates how the cover plate 122 is welded, or otherwise bonded, tothe bottom case 124 in order to form the hermetically-sealed IEADhousing 100.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the IEAD case 124, including thefeed-through pin 130, before the electronic components are placedtherein, and before being sealed with the a cover plate 122. The case124 is similar to a shallow “can” without a lid, having a short sidewall around its perimeter. Alternatively, the case 124 may be viewed asa short cylinder, closed at one end but open at the other. (Note, in themedical device industry the housing of an implanted device is oftenreferred to as a “can”.) The feed-through pin 130 passes through asegment of the wall of the case 124 that is at the bottom of a recess140 formed in the wall. The use of this recess 140 to hold thefeed-through pin 130 is a key feature of the invention because it keepsthe temperature-sensitive portions of the feed-through assembly (thoseportions that could be damaged by excessive heat) away from the thermalshock and residual weld stress inflicted upon the case 124 when thecover plate 122 is welded thereto.

FIG. 4A is a side view of the IEAD case 124, and shows an annular rim126 formed on both sides of the case 124. The ring anode electrode 120fits between these rims 126 once the ring electrode 120 is positionedaround the edge of the case 124. (This ring electrode 120 is, for mostconfigurations, used as an anode electrode. Hence, the ring electrode120 may sometimes be referred to herein as a ring anode electrode.However, it is noted that the ring electrode could also be employed as acathode electrode, if desired.) A silicone insulator layer 129 (see FIG.7) is placed between the backside of the ring anode electrode 120 andthe perimeter edge of the case 124 where the ring anode electrode 120 isplaced around the edge of the case 124.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the empty IEAD case 124 shown in theperspective view of FIG. 4. An outline of the recess cavity 140 is alsoseen in FIG. 5, as is the feed-through pin 130. A bottom edge of therecess cavity 140 is located a distance D5 radially inward from the edgeof the case 124. In one embodiment, the distance D5 is between about 2.0to 2.5 mm. The feed-through pin 130, which is just a piece of solidwire, is shown in FIG. 5 extending radially outward from the case 124above the recess cavity 140 and radially inward from the recess cavitytowards the center of the case 124. The length of this feed-through pin130 is trimmed, as needed, when a distal end (extending above therecess) is connected (welded) to the anode ring electrode 120 (passingthrough a hole in the ring electrode 120 prior to welding) and when aproximal end of the feed-through pin 130 is connected to an outputterminal of the electronic assembly 133.

FIG. 5A depicts a sectional view of the IEAD housing 124 of FIG. 5 takenalong the section line A-A of FIG. 5. FIG. 5B shows an enlarged view ordetail of the portion of FIG. 5A that is encircled with the line B.Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B jointly, it is seen that the feed-throughpin 130 is embedded within an insulator material 136, which insulatingmaterial 136 has a diameter of D3. The feed-through pin assembly (whichpin assembly comprises the combination of the pin 130 embedded into theinsulator material 136) resides on a shoulder around an opening or holeformed in the bottom of the recess 140 having a diameter D4. For theembodiment shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the diameter D3 is 0.95−0.07 mm,where the −0.07 mm is a tolerance. (Thus, with the tolerance considered,the diameter D3 may range from 0.88 mm to 0.95 mm.) The diameter D4 is0.80 mm with a tolerance of −0.06 mm. (Thus, with the toleranceconsidered, the diameter D4 could range from 0.74 mm to 0.80 mm.)

The feed-through pin 130 is preferably made of pure platinum 99.95%. Apreferred material for the insulator material 136 is Ruby or alumina.The IEAD case 124, and the cover 122, are preferably made from titanium.The feed-through assembly, including the feed-through pin 130,ruby/alumina insulator 136 and the case 124 are hermetically sealed as aunit by gold brazing. Alternatively, active metal brazing can be used.(Active metal brazing is a form of brazing which allows metal to bejoined to ceramic without metallization.)

The hermeticity of the sealed IEAD housing is tested using a helium leaktest, as is common in the medical device industry. The helium leak rateshould not exceed 1×10⁻⁹ STD cc/sec at 1 atm pressure. Other tests areperformed to verify the case-to-pin resistance (which should be at least15×10⁶ Ohms at 100 volts DC), the avoidance of dielectric breakdown orflashover between the pin and the case 124 at 400 volts AC RMS at 60 Hzand thermal shock.

One important advantage provided by the feed-through assembly shown inFIGS. 4A, 5, 5A and 5B is that the feed-through assembly made from thefeed-through pin 130, the ruby insulator 136 and the recess cavity 140(formed in the case material 124) may be fabricated and assembled beforeany other components of the IEAD 100 are placed inside of the IEAD case124. This advantage greatly facilitates the manufacture of the IEADdevice.

Additional details associated with the radial feed-through pin 130, andits use within an electronic package, such as the IEAD 100 describedherein, may be found in Applicant's co-pending patent application,“Radial Feed Through Packaging for an Implantable ElectroacupunctureDevice”, application Ser. No. 13/777,901, filed Feb. 26, 2013, whichapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

Turning next to FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective view of anelectronic assembly 133. The electronic assembly 133 includes amulti-layer printed circuit (pc) board 138, or equivalent mountingstructure, on which a battery 132 and various electronic components 134are mounted. This assembly is adapted to fit inside of the empty bottomhousing 124 of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a plan view and side view, respectively, of theelectronic assembly 133 shown in FIG. 6. The electronic components areassembled and connected together so as to perform the circuit functionsneeded for the IEAD 100 to perform its intended functions. These circuitfunctions are explained in more detail below under the sub-heading“Electrical Design”. Additional details associated with these functionsmay also be found in many of the co-pending patent applications referredto herein.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the complete IEAD 100, illustrating itsmain constituent parts. As seen in FIG. 7, the IEAD 100 includes,starting on the right and going left, a cathode electrode 110, a ringanode electrode 120, an insulating layer 129, the bottom case 124 (the“can” portion of the IEAD housing, and which includes the feed-throughpin 130 which passes through an opening in the bottom of the recess 140formed as part of the case, but wherein the feed-through pin 130 isinsulated and does not make electrical contact with the metal case 124by the ruby insulator 136), the electronic assembly 133 (which includesthe battery 132 and various electronic components 134 mounted on a PCboard 138) and the cover plate 122. The cover plate 122 is welded to theedge of the bottom case 124 using laser beam welding, or some equivalentprocess, as one of the final steps in the assembly process.

Other components included in the IEAD assembly, but not necessarilyshown or identified in FIG. 7, include adhesive patches for bonding thebattery 132 to the pc board 138 of the electronic assembly 133, and forbonding the electronic assembly 133 to the inside of the bottom of thecase 124. To prevent high temperature exposure of the battery 132 duringthe assembly process, conductive epoxy is used to connect a batteryterminal to the pc board 138. Because the curing temperature ofconductive epoxy is 125° C., the following process is used: (a) firstcure the conductive epoxy of a battery terminal ribbon to the pc boardwithout the battery, (b) then glue the battery to the pc board usingroom temperature cure silicone, and (c) laser tack weld the connectingribbon to the battery.

Also not shown in FIG. 7 is the manner of connecting the proximal end ofthe feed-through pin 130 to the pc board 138, and connecting a pc boardground pad to the case 124. A preferred method of making theseconnections is to use conductive epoxy and conductive ribbons, althoughother connection methods known in the art may also be used.

Further shown in FIG. 7 is a layer of silicon molding 125 that is usedto cover all surfaces of the entire IEAD 100 except for the anode ringelectrode 120 and the circular cathode electrode 110. An over-moldingprocess is used to accomplish this, although over-molding using siliconeLSR 70 (curing temperature of 120° C.) with an injection molding processcannot be used. Over-molding processes that may be used include: (a)molding a silicone jacket and gluing the jacket onto the case using roomtemperature cure silicone (RTV) inside of a mold, and curing at roomtemperature; (b) injecting room temperature cure silicone in a PEEK orTeflon® mold (silicone will not stick to the Teflon® or PEEK material);or (c) dip coating the IEAD 100 in room temperature cure silicone whilemasking the electrode surfaces that are not to be coated. (Note: PEEK isa well known semicrystalline thermoplastic with excellent mechanical andchemical resistance properties that are retained at high temperatures.)

When assembled, the insulating layer 129 is positioned underneath thering anode electrode 120 so that the anode electrode does not short tothe case 124. The only electrical connection made to the anode electrode120 is through the distal tip of the feed-through pin 130. Theelectrical contact with the cathode electrode 110 is made through thecase 124. However, because the entire IEAD is coated with a layer ofsilicone molding 125, except for the anode ring electrode 120 and thecircular cathode electrode 110, all stimulation current generated by theIEAD 100 must flow between the exposed surfaces of the anode andcathode.

It is noted that while the preferred configuration described herein usesa ring anode electrode 120 placed around the edges of the IEAD housing,and a circular cathode electrode 110 placed in the center of the cathodeside of the IEAD case 124, such an arrangement could be reversed, i.e.,the ring electrode could be the cathode, and the circular electrodecould be the anode.

Moreover, the location and shape of the electrodes may be configureddifferently than is shown in the one preferred embodiment describedabove in connection with FIGS. 1, and 2-7. For example, the ring anodeelectrode 120 need not be placed around the perimeter of the device, butsuch electrode may be a flat circumferential electrode that assumesdifferent shapes (e.g., round or oval) that is placed on the front orback surface of the IEAD so as to surround the central electrode.Further, for some embodiments, the surfaces of the anode and cathodeelectrodes may have convex surfaces.

It is also noted that while one preferred embodiment has been disclosedherein that incorporates a round, or short cylindrical-shaped housing,also referred to as a coin-shaped housing, the invention does notrequire that the case 124 (which may also be referred to as a“container”), and its associated cover plate 122, be round. The casecould just as easily be an oval-shaped, rectangular-shaped (e.g., squarewith smooth corners), polygonal-shaped (e.g., hexagon-, octagon-,pentagon-shaped), button-shaped (with convex top or bottom for asmoother profile) device. Any of these alternate shapes, or others,would still permit the basic principles of the invention to be used toprovide a robust, compact, thin, case to house the electronic circuitryand power source used by the invention; as well as to help protect afeed-through assembly from being exposed to excessive heat duringassembly, and to allow the thin device to provide the benefits describedherein related to its manufacture, implantation and use. For example, aslong as the device remains relatively thin, e.g., no more than about 2-3mm, and does not have a maximum linear dimension greater than about 25mm, then the device can be readily implanted in a pocket over the tissuearea where the selected acupuoint(s) is located. As long as there is arecess in the wall around the perimeter of the case wherein thefeed-through assembly may be mounted, which recess effectively moves thewall or edge of the case inwardly into the housing a safe thermaldistance, as well as a safe residual weld stress distance, from theperimeter wall where a hermetically-sealed weld occurs, the principlesof the invention apply.

Further, it should be noted that while the preferred configuration ofthe IEAD described herein utilizes a central electrode on one of itssurfaces that is round, having a diameter of nominally 4 mm, suchcentral electrode need not necessarily be round. It could be ovalshaped, polygonal-shaped, or shaped otherwise, in which case its size isbest defined by its maximum width, which will generally be no greaterthan about 7 mm.

Finally, it is noted that the electrode arrangement may be modifiedsomewhat, and the desired attributes of the invention may still beachieved. For example, as indicated previously, one preferred electrodeconfiguration for use with the invention utilizes a symmetricalelectrode configuration, e.g., an annular electrode of a first polaritythat surrounds a central electrode of a second polarity. Such asymmetrical electrode configuration makes the implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) relatively immune to being implanted inan improper orientation relative to the body tissue at the selectedacupoint(s) that is being stimulated. However, an electrodeconfiguration that is not symmetrical may still be used and many of thetherapeutic effects of the invention may still be achieved. For example,two spaced-apart electrodes on a front surface of the housing, one of afirst polarity, and a second of a second polarity, could still, whenoriented properly with respect to a selected acupoint tissue location,provide some desired therapeutic results.

FIG. 7A schematically illustrates a few alternative electrodeconfigurations that may be used with the invention. The electrodeconfiguration schematically shown in the upper left corner of FIG. 7A,identified as “I”, schematically illustrates one central electrode 110surrounded by a single ring electrode 120. This is one of the preferredelectrode configurations that has been described previously inconnection, e.g., with the description of FIGS. 1-7, and is presented inFIG. 7A for reference and comparative purposes.

In the lower left corner of FIG. 7A, identified as “II”, anelectrode/array configuration is schematically illustrated that has acentral electrode 310 of a first polarity surrounded by an oval-shapedelectrode array 320 a of two electrodes of a second polarity. (Theoval-shaped electrode array 320 a could also be other shapes, e.g.,round.) When the two electrodes (of the same polarity) in the electrodearray 320 a are properly aligned with the body tissue being stimulated,e.g., aligned with a nerve underlying the desired acupoint, then suchelectrode configuration can stimulate the body tissue (e.g., theunderlying nerve) at or near the desired acupoint(s) with the same, oralmost the same, efficacy as can the electrode configuration I (upperright corner of FIG. 7A).

Note, as has already been described above, the phrase “electrode orelectrode array,” or “electrodes or electrode arrays,” may also bereferred to herein as “electrode/array” or “electrodes/arrays,”respectively. For the ease of explanation, when an electrode array isreferred to herein that comprises a plurality (two or more) ofindividual electrodes of the same polarity, the individual electrodes ofthe same polarity within the electrode array may also be referred to as“individual electrodes”, “segments” of the electrode array, “electrodesegments”, or just “segments”.

In the lower right corner of FIG. 7A, identified as “Ill”, en electrodeconfiguration is schematically illustrated that has a centralelectrode/array 310 b of three electrode segments of a first polaritysurrounded by an oval-shaped electrode array 320 b of three electrodesegments of a second polarity. (This oval-shaped array 320 b could alsobe other shapes, e.g., round.) As shown in configuration III of FIG. 7A,the three electrode segments of the electrode array 320 b are positionedmore or less equidistant from each other, although a true equidistantpositioning, especially relative to the central electrode array 310 b,is not readily achieved with 3 electrodes placed in an oval-shapedarray. However, a symmetrical positioning of the electrode segmentswithin the array is not necessary to stimulate the body tissue at thedesired acupoint(s) with some efficacy.

In the upper right corner of FIG. 7A, identified as “IV”, anelectrode/array configuration is schematically illustrated that has acentral electrode array 310 c of a first polarity surrounded by anelectrode array 320 c of four electrode segments of a second polarity.The four electrode segments of the electrode array 320 c are arrangedsymmetrically in a round or oval-shaped array. The four electrodesegments of the electrode array 310 c are likewise arrangedsymmetrically in a round or oval-shaped array. While preferred for manyconfigurations, the use of a symmetrical electrode/array, whether as acentral electrode array 310 or as a surrounding electrode/array 320, isnot always required.

The electrode configurations I, II, III and IV shown schematically inFIG. 7A are only representative of a few electrode configurations thatmay be used with the present invention. Further, it is to be noted thatthe central electrode/array 310 need not have the same number ofelectrode segments as does the surrounding electrode/array 320.Typically, the central electrode/array 310 of a first polarity will be asingle electrode; whereas the surrounding electrode/array 320 of asecond polarity may have n individual electrode segments, where n is aninteger that can vary from 1, 2, 3, . . . n. Thus, for a circumferentialelectrode array where n=4, there are four electrode segments of the samepolarity arranged in circumferential pattern around a centralelectrode/array. If the circumferential electrode array with n=4 is asymmetrical electrode array, then the four electrode segments will bespaced apart equally in a circumferential pattern around a centralelectrode/array. When n=1, the circumferential electrode array reducesto a single circumferential segment or a single annular electrode thatsurrounds a central electrode/array.

Additionally, the polarities of the electrode/arrays may be selected asneeded. That is, while the central electrode/array 310 is typically acathode (−), and the surrounding electrode/array 320 is typically ananode (+), these polarities may be reversed.

It should be noted that the shape of the circumferentialelectrode/array, whether circular, oval, or other shape, need notnecessarily be the same shape as the IEAD housing, unless thecircumferential electrode/array is attached to a perimeter edge of theIEAD housing. The IEAD housing may be round, or it may be oval, or itmay have a polygon shape, or other shape, as needed to suit the needs ofa particular manufacturer and/or patient.

For a more thorough description of the electrode materials best suitedfor the cathode electrode 110 and the anode electrode 120, as well asthe surface area required for these electrodes, see Applicant'sco-pending patent application, “Electrode Configuration for anImplantable Electroacupuncture Device”, application Ser. No. 13/776,155,filed Feb. 25, 2013, which application is incorporated hereby byreference.

Additional electrode configurations, both symmetrical electrodeconfigurations and non-symmetrical electrode configurations, that may beused with an EA stimulation device as described herein, are illustratedin Appendix A and Appendix B.

Electrical Design

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8A-16, the electrical design and operationof the circuits employed within the IEAD 100 will be described. Moredetails associated with the design of the electrical circuits describedherein may be found in the applications referenced herein. Also,additional details regarding the electrical design and operation may begleaned from Applicant's co-pending patent application, “Circuits andMethods for Using a High Impedance, Thin, Coin-cell Type Battery in anImplantable Electroacupuncture Device,” application Ser. No. 13/769,699,filed Feb. 18, 2013, which application is incorporated herein byreference.

FIG. 8A shows a functional block diagram of an implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) 100 made in accordance with theteachings disclosed herein. As seen in FIG. 8A, the IEAD 100 uses animplantable battery 215 having a battery voltage V_(BAT). Also includedwithin the IEAD 100 is a Boost Converter circuit 200, an Output Circuit202 and a Control Circuit 210. The battery 115, boost converter circuit200, output circuit 202 and control circuit 210 are all housed within anhermetically sealed housing 124.

As controlled by the control circuit 210, the output circuit 202 of theIEAD 100 generates a sequence of stimulation pulses that are deliveredto electrodes E1 and E2, through feed-through terminals 206 and 207,respectively, in accordance with a prescribed stimulation regimen. Acoupling capacitor Cc is also employed in series with at least one ofthe feed-through terminals 206 or 207 to prevent DC (direct current)current from flowing into the patient's body tissue.

As explained more fully below in connection with the description ofFIGS. 15A and 15B, and as can also be seen from the waveform 219 shownin the lower right corner of FIG. 8A, the prescribed stimulation regimentypically comprises a continuous stream of stimulation pulses having afixed amplitude, e.g., V_(A) volts, a fixed pulse width, e.g., 0.5millisecond, and at a fixed frequency, e.g., 2 Hz, during eachstimulation session. The stimulation session, also as part of thestimulation regimen, is generated at a very low duty cycle, e.g., for 30minutes once each week. Other stimulation regimens may also be used,e.g., using a variable frequency for the stimulus pulse during astimulation session rather than a fixed frequency. Also, the rate ofoccurrence of the stimulation session may be varied from as short as,e.g., 1 day, to as long as, e.g., 14 days.

The electrodes E1 and E2 form an integral part of the housing 124. Thatis, electrode E2 may comprise a circumferential anode electrode thatsurrounds a cathode electrode E1. The cathode electrode E1, for theembodiment described here, is electrically connected to the case 124(thereby making the feed-through terminal 206 unnecessary).

In a second preferred embodiment, particularly well-suited forimplantable electrical stimulation devices, the anode electrode E2 iselectrically connected to the case 124 (thereby making the feed-throughterminal 207 unnecessary). The cathode electrode E1 is electricallyconnected to the circumferential electrode that surrounds the anodeelectrode E2. That is, the stimulation pulses delivered to the targettissue location (i.e., to the selected acupoint) through the electrodesE1 and E2 are, relative to a zero volt ground (GND) reference, negativestimulation pulses, as shown in the waveform diagram near the lowerright hand corner of FIG. 8A.

Thus, in the embodiment described in FIG. 8A, it is seen that during astimulation pulse the electrode E2 functions as an anode, or positive(+) electrode, and the electrode E1 functions as a cathode, or negative(−) electrode.

The battery 115 provides all of the operating power needed by the EAdevice 100. The battery voltage V_(BAT) is not the optimum voltageneeded by the circuits of the EA device, including the output circuitry,in order to efficiently generate stimulation pulses of amplitude, e.g.,−V_(A) volts. The amplitude V_(A) of the stimulation pulses is typicallymany times greater than the battery voltage V_(BAT). This means that thebattery voltage must be “boosted”, or increased, in order forstimulation pulses of amplitude V_(A) to be generated. Such “boosting”is done using the boost converter circuit 200. That is, it is thefunction of the Boost Converter circuit 200 to take its input voltage,V_(BAT), and convert it to another voltage, e.g., V_(OUT), which voltageV_(OUT) is needed by the output circuit 202 in order for the IEAD 100 toperform its intended function.

The IEAD 100 shown in FIG. 8A, and packaged as described above inconnection with FIGS. 1-7, advantageously provides a tinyself-contained, coin-sized stimulator that may be implanted in a patientat or near a specified acupoint in order to favorably treat a conditionor disease of a patient. The coin-sized stimulator advantageouslyapplies electrical stimulation pulses at very low levels and low dutycycles in accordance with specified stimulation regimens throughelectrodes that form an integral part of the housing of the stimulator.A tiny battery inside of the coin-sized stimulator provides enoughenergy for the stimulator to carry out its specified stimulation regimenover a period of several years. Thus, the coin-sized stimulator, onceimplanted, provides an unobtrusive, needleless, long-lasting, safe,elegant and effective mechanism for treating certain conditions anddiseases that have long been treated by acupuncture orelectroacupuncture.

A boost converter integrated circuit (IC) typically draws current fromits power source in a manner that is proportional to the differencebetween the actual output voltage V_(OUT) and a set point outputvoltage, or feedback signal. A representative boost converter circuitthat operates in this manner is shown in FIG. 8B. At boost converterstart up, when the actual output voltage is low compared to the setpoint output voltage, the current drawn from the power source can bequite large. Unfortunately, when batteries are used as power sources,they have internal voltage losses (caused by the battery's internalimpedance) that are proportional to the current drawn from them. Thiscan result in under voltage conditions when there is a large currentdemand from the boost converter at start up or at high instantaneousoutput current. Current surges and the associated under voltageconditions can lead to undesired behavior and reduced operating life ofan implanted electro-acupuncture device.

In the boost converter circuit example shown in FIG. 8A, the battery ismodeled as a voltage source with a simple series resistance. Withreference to the circuit shown in FIG. 8A, when the series resistanceR_(BAT) is small (5 Ohms or less), the boost converter input voltageV_(IN), output voltage V_(OUT) and current drawn from the battery,I_(BAT), typically look like the waveform shown in FIG. 9A, where thehorizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis on the left is voltage,and the vertical axis of the right is current.

Referring to the waveform in FIG. 9A, at boost converter startup (10ms), there is 70 mA of current drawn from the battery with only ˜70 mVof drop in the input voltage V_(IN). Similarly, the instantaneous outputcurrent demand for electro-acupuncture pulses draws up to 40 mA from thebattery with an input voltage drop of ˜40 mV.

Disadvantageously, however, a battery with higher internal impedance(e.g., 160 Ohms), cannot source more than a milliampere or so of currentwithout a significant drop in output voltage. This problem is depictedin the timing waveform diagram shown in FIG. 9B. In FIG. 9B, as in FIG.9A, the horizontal axis is time, the left vertical axis is voltage, andthe right vertical axis is current.

As seen in FIG. 9B, as a result of the higher internal batteryimpedance, the voltage at the battery terminal (V_(IN)) is pulled downfrom 2.9 V to the minimum input voltage of the boost converter (˜1.5 V)during startup and during the instantaneous output current loadassociated with electro-acupuncture stimulus pulses. The resulting dropsin output voltage V_(OUT) are not acceptable in any type of circuitexcept an uncontrolled oscillator circuit.

Also, it should be noted that although the battery used in the boostconverter circuit is modeled in FIG. 8B as a simple series resistor,battery impedance can arise from the internal design, battery electrodesurface area and different types of electrochemical reactions. All ofthese contributors to battery impedance can cause the voltage of thebattery at the battery terminals to decrease as the current drawn fromthe battery increases.

In a suitably small and thin implantable electroacupuncture device(IEAD) of the type disclosed herein, it is desired to use a higherimpedance battery in order to assure a small and thin device, keep costslow, and/or to have low self-discharge rates. The battery internalimpedance also typically increases as the battery discharges. This canlimit the service life of the device even if a new battery hasacceptably low internal impedance. Thus, it is seen that for the IEAD100 disclosed herein to reliably perform its intended function over along period of time, a circuit design is needed for the boost convertercircuit that can manage the instantaneous current drawn from V_(IN) ofthe battery. Such current management is needed to prevent the battery'sinternal impedance from causing V_(IN) to drop to unacceptably lowlevels as the boost converter circuit pumps up the output voltageV_(OUT) and when there is high instantaneous output current demand, asoccurs when EA stimulation pulses are generated.

To provide this needed current management, the IEAD 100 disclosed hereinemploys electronic circuitry as shown in FIG. 10, or equivalentsthereof. Similar to what is shown in FIG. 8B, the circuitry of FIG. 10includes a battery, a boost converter circuit 200, an output circuit230, and a control circuit 220. The control circuit 220 generates adigital control signal that is used to duty cycle the boost convertercircuit 200 ON and OFF in order to limit the instantaneous current drawnfrom the battery. That is, the digital control signal pulses the boostconverter ON for a short time, but then shuts the boost converter downbefore a significant current can be drawn from the battery. Inconjunction with such pulsing, an input capacitance C_(F) is used toreduce the ripple in the input voltage V_(IN). The capacitor C_(F)supplies the high instantaneous current for the short time that theboost converter is ON and then recharges more slowly from the batteryduring the interval that the boost converter is OFF.

In the circuitry shown in FIG. 10, it is noted that the output voltageV_(OUT) generated by the boost converter circuit 200 is set by thereference voltage V_(REF) applied to the set point or feedback terminalof the boost converter circuit 200. For the configuration shown in FIG.10, V_(REF) is proportional to the output voltage V_(OUT), as determinedby the resistor dividing network of R1 and R2.

The switches S_(P) and S_(R), shown in FIG. 10 as part of the outputcircuit 230, are also controlled by the control circuit 220. Theseswitches are selectively closed and opened to form the EA stimulationpulses applied to the load, R_(LOAD). Before a stimulus pulse occurs,switch S_(R) is closed sufficiently long for the circuit side ofcoupling capacitor C_(C) to be charged to the output voltage, V_(OUT).The tissue side of C_(C) is maintained at 0 volts by the cathodeelectrode E2, which is maintained at ground reference. Then, for most ofthe time between stimulation pulses, both switches S_(R) and S_(P) arekept open, with a voltage approximately equal to the output voltageV_(OUT) appearing across the coupling capacitor C_(C).

At the leading edge of a stimulus pulse, the switch S_(P) is closed,which immediately causes a negative voltage −V_(OUT) to appear acrossthe load, R_(LOAD), causing the voltage at the anode E1 to also drop toapproximately −V_(OUT), thereby creating the leading edge of thestimulus pulse. This voltage starts to decay back to 0 volts ascontrolled by an RC (resistor-capacitance) time constant that is longcompared with the desired pulse width. At the trailing edge of thepulse, before the voltage at the anode E1 has decayed very much, theswitch S_(P) is open and the switch S_(R) is closed. This action causesthe voltage at the anode E1 to immediately (relatively speaking) returnto 0 volts, thereby defining the trailing edge of the pulse. With theswitch S_(R) closed, the charge on the circuit side of the couplingcapacitor C_(C) is allowed to charge back to V_(OUT) within a timeperiod controlled by a time constant set by the values of capacitorC_(C) and resistor R3. When the circuit side of the coupling capacitorC_(C) has been charged back to V_(OUT), then switch S_(R) is opened, andboth switches S_(R) and S_(P) remain open until the next stimulus pulseis to be generated. Then the process repeats each time a stimulus pulseis to be applied across the load.

Thus, it is seen that in one embodiment of the electronic circuitry usedwithin the IEAD 100, as shown in FIG. 10, a boost converter circuit 200is employed which can be shut down with a control signal. The controlsignal is ideally a digital control signal generated by a controlcircuit 220 (which may be realized using a microprocessor or equivalentcircuit). The control signal is applied to the low side (ground side) ofthe boost converter circuit 200 (identified as the “shutdown” terminalin FIG. 10). A capacitor C_(F) supplies instantaneous current for theshort ON time that the control signal enables the boost convertercircuit to operate. And, the capacitor CF is recharged from the batteryduring the relatively long OFF time when the control signal disables theboost converter circuit.

An alternate embodiment of the electronic circuitry that may be usedwithin the IEAD 100 is shown in FIG. 11. This circuit is in mostrespects the same as the circuitry shown in FIG. 10. However, in thisalternate embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the boost converter circuit 200does not have a specific shut down input control. Rather, as seen inFIG. 11, the boost converter circuit is shut down by applying a controlvoltage to the feedback input of the boost converter circuit 200 that ishigher than V_(REF). When this happens, i.e., when the control voltageapplied to the feedback input is greater than V_(REF), the boostconverter will stop switching and draws little or no current from thebattery. The value of V_(REF) is typically a low enough voltage, such asa 1.2 V band-gap voltage, that a low level digital control signal can beused to disable the boost converter circuit. To enable the boostconverter circuit, the control signal can be set to go to a highimpedance, which effectively returns the node at the V_(REF) terminal tothe voltage set by the resistor divider network formed from R1 and R2.Alternatively the control signal can be set to go to a voltage less thanV_(REF).

A low level digital control signal that performs this function ofenabling (turning ON) or disabling (turning OFF) the boost convertercircuit is depicted in FIG. 11 as being generated at the output of acontrol circuit 220. The signal line on which this control signal ispresent connects the output of the control circuit 220 with the V_(REF)node connected to the feedback input of the boost converter circuit.This control signal, as suggested by the waveform shown in FIG. 11,varies from a voltage greater than V_(REF), thereby disabling or turningOFF the boost converter circuit, to a voltage less than V_(REF), therebyenabling or turning the boost converter circuit ON.

A refinement to the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is to use thecontrol signal to drive the low side of R2 as shown in FIG. 12. That is,as shown in FIG. 12, the boost converter circuit 200 is shut down whenthe control signal is greater than V_(REF) and runs when the controlsignal is less than V_(REF). A digital control signal can be used toperform this function by switching between ground and a voltage greaterthan V_(REF). This has the additional possibility of delta-sigmamodulation control of V_(OUT) if a measurement of the actual V_(OUT) isavailable for feedback, e.g., using a signal line 222, to thecontroller.

One preferred embodiment of the circuitry used in an implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) 100 that employs a digital controlsignal as taught herein is shown in the schematic diagram shown in FIG.13A. In FIG. 13A, there are basically four integrated circuits (ICs)used as the main components. The IC U1 is a boost converter circuit, andperforms the function of the boost converter circuit 200 describedpreviously in connection with FIGS. 8B, 10, 11 and 12.

The IC U2 is a micro-controller IC and is used to perform the functionof the control circuit 220 described previously in connection with FIGS.10, 11 and 12. A preferred IC for this purpose is a MSP430G24521micro-controller chip made by Texas Instruments. This chip includes 8 KBof Flash memory. Having some memory included with the micro-controlleris important because it allows the parameters associated with a selectedstimulation regimen to be defined and stored. One of the advantages ofthe IEAD described herein is that it provides a stimulation regimen thatcan be defined with just 5 parameters, as taught below in connectionwith FIGS. 15A and 15B. This allows the programming features of themicro-controller to be carried out in a simple and straightforwardmanner.

The micro-controller U2 primarily performs the function of generatingthe digital signal that shuts down the boost converter to prevent toomuch instantaneous current from being drawn from the battery V_(BAT).The micro-controller U2 also controls the generation of the stimuluspulses at the desired pulse width and frequency. It further keeps trackof the time periods associated with a stimulation session, i.e., when astimulation session begins and when it ends.

The micro-controller U2 also controls the amplitude of the stimuluspulse. This is done by adjusting the value of a current generated by aProgrammable Current Source U3. In one embodiment, U3 is realized with avoltage controlled current source IC. In such a voltage controlledcurrent source, the programmed current is set by a programmed voltageappearing across a fixed resistor R5, i.e., the voltage appearing at the“OUT” terminal of U3. This programmed voltage, in turn, is set by thevoltage applied to the “SET” terminal of U3. That is, the programmedcurrent source U3 sets the voltage at the “OUT” terminal to be equal tothe voltage applied to the “SET” terminal. The programmed current thatflows through the resistor R5 is then set by Ohms Law to be the voltageat the “set” terminal divided by R5. As the voltage at the “set”terminal changes, the current flowing through resistor R5 at the “OUT”terminal changes, and this current is essentially the same as thecurrent pulled through the closed switch M1, which is essentially thesame current flowing through the load R_(LOAD). Hence, whatever currentflows through resistor R5, as set by the voltage across resistor R5, isessentially the same current that flows through the load R_(LOAD). Thus,as the micro-controller U2 sets the voltage at the “set” terminal of U3,on the signal line labeled “AMPSET”, it controls what current flowsthrough the load R_(LOAD). In no event can the amplitude of the voltagepulse developed across the load R_(LOAD) exceed the voltage V_(OUT)developed by the boost converter less the voltage drops across theswitches and current source.

The switches S_(R) and S_(P) described previously in connection withFIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are realized with transistor switches M1, M2, M3,M4, M5 and M6, each of which is controlled directly or indirectly bycontrol signals generated by the micro-controller circuit U2. For theembodiment shown in FIG. 13A, these switches are controlled by twosignals, one appearing on signal line 234, labeled PULSE, and the otherappearing on signal line 236, labeled RCHG (which is an abbreviation for“recharge”). For the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 13A, the RCHGsignal on signal line 236 is always the inverse of the PULSE signalappearing on signal line 234. This type of control does not allow bothswitch M1 and switch M2 to be open or closed at the same time. Rather,switch M1 is closed when switch M2 is open, and switch M2 is closed,when switch M1 is open. When switch M1 is closed, and switch M2 is open,the stimulus pulse appears across the load, R_(LOAD), with the currentflowing through the load, R_(LOAD), being essentially equal to thecurrent flowing through resistor R5. When the switch M1 is open, andswitch M2 is closed, no stimulus pulse appears across the load, and thecoupling capacitors C5 and C6 are recharged through the closed switch M2and resistor R6 to the voltage V_(OUT) in anticipation of the nextstimulus pulse.

The circuitry shown in FIG. 13A is only exemplary of one type of circuitthat may be used to control the pulse width, amplitude, frequency, andduty cycle of stimulation pulses applied to the load, R_(LOAD). Any typeof circuit, or control, that allows stimulation pulses of a desiredmagnitude (measured in terms of pulse width, frequency and amplitude,where the amplitude may be measured in current or voltage) to be appliedthrough the electrodes to the patient at the specified acupoint at adesired duty cycle (stimulation session duration and frequency) may beused. However, for the circuitry to perform its intended function over along period of time, e.g., years, using only a small energy source,e.g., a small coin-sized battery having a high battery impedance and arelatively low capacity, the circuitry must be properly managed andcontrolled to prevent excessive current draw from the battery.

It is also important that the circuitry used in the IEAD 100, e.g., thecircuitry shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13A, or equivalents thereof, havesome means for controlling the stimulation current that flows throughthe load, R_(LOAD), which load may be characterized as the patient'stissue impedance at and around the acupoint being stimulated. Thistissue impedance, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, may typically vary frombetween about 300 ohms to 2000 ohms. Moreover, it not only varies fromone patient to another, but it varies over time. Hence, there is a needto control the current that flows through this variable load, R_(LOAD).One way of accomplishing this goal is to control the stimulationcurrent, as opposed to the stimulation voltage, so that the same currentwill flow through the tissue load regardless of changes that may occurin the tissue impedance over time. The use of a voltage controlledcurrent source U3, as shown in FIG. 13A, is one way to satisfy thisneed.

Still referring to FIG. 13A, a fourth IC U4 is connected to themicro-controller U2. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 13A, the IC U4 isan electromagnetic field sensor, and it allows the presence of anexternally-generated (non-implanted) electromagnetic field to be sensed.An “electromagnetic” field, for purposes of this application includesmagnetic fields, radio frequency (RF) fields, light fields, and thelike. The electromagnetic sensor may take many forms, such as anywireless sensing element, e.g., a pickup coil or RF detector, a photondetector, a magnetic field detector, and the like. When a magneticsensor is employed as the electromagnetic sensor U4, the magnetic fieldis generated using an External Control Device (ECD) 240 thatcommunicates wirelessly, e.g., through the presence or absence of amagnetic field, with the magnetic sensor U4. (A magnetic field, or othertype of field if a magnetic field is not used, is symbolicallyillustrated in FIG. 13A by the wavy line 242.) In its simplest form, theECD 240 may simply be a magnet, and modulation of the magnetic field isachieved simply by placing or removing the magnet next to or away fromthe IEAD. When other types of sensors (non-magnetic) are employed, theECD 240 generates the appropriate signal or field to be sensed by thesensor that is used.

Use of the ECD 240 provides a way for the patient, or medical personnel,to control the IEAD 100 after it has been implanted (or before it isimplanted) with some simple commands, e.g., turn the IEAD ON, turn theIEAD OFF, increase the amplitude of the stimulation pulses by oneincrement, decrease the amplitude of the stimulation pulses by oneincrement, and the like. A simple coding scheme may be used todifferentiate one command from another. For example, one coding schemeis time-based. That is, a first command is communicated by holding amagnet near the IEAD 100, and hence near the magnetic sensor U4contained within the IEAD 100, for differing lengths of time. If, forexample, a magnet is held over the IEAD for at least 2 seconds, but nomore than 7 seconds, a first command is communicated. If a magnet isheld over the IEAD for at least 11 seconds, but no more than 18 seconds,a second command is communicated, and so forth.

Another coding scheme that could be used is a sequence-based codingscheme. That is, application of 3 magnetic pulses may be used to signalone external command, if the sequence is repeated 3 times. A sequence of2 magnetic pulses, repeated twice, may be used to signal anotherexternal command. A sequence of one magnetic pulse, followed by asequence of two magnetic pulses, followed by a sequence of threemagnetic pulses, may be used to signal yet another external command.

Other simple coding schemes may also be used, such as the letters AA,RR, HO, BT, KS using international Morse code. That is, the Morse codesymbols for the letter “A” are dot dash, where a dot is a short magneticpulse, and a dash is a long magnetic pulse. Thus, to send the letter Ato the IEAD 100 using an external magnet, the user would hold the magnetover the area where the IEAD 100 is implanted for a short period oftime, e.g., one second or less, followed by holding the magnet over theIEAD for a long period of time, e.g., more than one second.

More sophisticated magnetic coding schemes may be used to communicate tothe micro-controller chip U2 the operating parameters of the IEAD 100.For example, using an electromagnet controlled by a computer, the pulsewidth, frequency, and amplitude of the EA stimulation pulses used duringeach stimulation session may be pre-set. Also, the frequency of thestimulation sessions can be pre-set. Additionally, a master reset signalcan be sent to the device in order to re-set these parameters to defaultvalues. These same operating parameters and commands may be re-sent atany time to the IEAD 100 during its useful lifetime should changes inthe parameters be desired or needed.

The current and voltage waveforms associated with the operation of theIEAD circuitry of FIG. 13A are shown in FIG. 13B. In FIG. 13B, thehorizontal axis is time, the left vertical axis is voltage, and theright vertical axis is current. The battery in this example has 160 Ohmsof internal impedance.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, during startup, the boost converter ONtime is approximately 30 microseconds applied every 7.8 milliseconds.This is sufficient to ramp the output voltage V_(OUT) up to over 10 Vwithin 2 seconds while drawing no more than about 1 mA from the batteryand inducing only 150 mV of input voltage ripple.

The electroacupuncture (EA) simulation pulses resulting from operationof the circuit of FIG. 13A have a width of 0.5 milliseconds and increasein amplitude from approximately 1 mA in the first pulse to approximately15 mA in the last pulse. The instantaneous current drawn from thebattery is less than 2 mA for the EA pulses and the drop in batteryvoltage is less than approximately 300 mV. The boost converter isenabled (turned ON) only during the instantaneous output current surgesassociated with the 0.5 milliseconds wide EA pulses.

Another preferred embodiment of the circuitry used in an implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) 100 that employs a digital controlsignal as taught herein is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 14.The circuit shown in FIG. 14 is, in most respects, very similar to thecircuit described previously in connection with FIG. 13A. What is new inFIG. 14 is the inclusion of a Schottky diode D4 at the output terminalLX of the boost convertor U1 and the inclusion of a fifth integratedcircuit (IC) U5 that essentially performs the same function as theswitches M1-M6 shown in FIG. 13A.

The Schottky diode D4 helps isolate the output voltage V_(OUT) generatedby the boost converter circuit U1. This is important in applicationswhere the boost converter circuit U1 is selected and operated to providean output voltage V_(OUT) that is four or five times as great as thebattery voltage, V_(BAT). For example, in the embodiment for which thecircuit of FIG. 14 is designed, the output voltage V_(OUT) is designedto be nominally 15 volts using a battery that has a nominal batteryvoltage of only 3 volts. (In contrast, the embodiment shown in FIG. 13Ais designed to provide an output voltage that is nominally 10-12 volts,using a battery having a nominal output voltage of 3 volts.)

The inclusion of the fifth IC U5 in the circuit shown in FIG. 14 is, asindicated, used to perform the function of a switch. The other ICs shownin FIG. 14, U1 (boost converter), U2 (micro-controller), U3 (voltagecontrolled programmable current source) and U4 (electromagnetic sensor)are basically the same as the IC's U1, U2, U3 and U4 describedpreviously in connection with FIG. 13A.

The IC U5 shown in FIG. 14 functions as a single pole/double throw(SPDT) switch. Numerous commercially-available ICs may be used for thisfunction. For example, an ADG1419 IC, available from Analog DevicesIncorporated (ADI) may be used. In such IC U5, the terminal “D”functions as the common terminal of the switch, and the terminals “SA”and “SB” function as the selected output terminal of the switch. Theterminals “IN” and “EN” are control terminals to control the position ofthe switch. Thus, when there is a signal present on the PULSE line,which is connected to the “IN” terminal of U5, the SPDT switch U5connects the “D” terminal to the “SB” terminal, and the SPDT switch U5effectively connects the cathode electrode E1 to the programmablecurrent source U3. This connection thus causes the programmed current,set by the control voltage AMPSET applied to the SET terminal of theprogrammable current source U3, to flow through resistor R5, which inturn causes essentially the same current to flow through the load,R_(LOAD), present between the electrodes E1 and E2. When a signal is notpresent on the PULSE line, the SPDT switch U5 effectively connects thecathode electrode E1 to the resistor R6, which allows the couplingcapacitors C12 and C13 to recharge back to the voltage V_(OUT) providedby the boost converter circuit U2.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the circuitry used in an implantableelectroacupuncture device (IEAD) 100 that employs an ON-OFF approach toduty-cycle modulate the boost converter as a tool for limiting theamount of instantaneous battery current drawn from the high impedancebattery 215 is shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 14A. The circuitshown in FIG. 14A is, in most respects, very similar to, or the same as,the circuit described previously in connection with FIG. 14 or FIG. 13A,and that description will not be repeated here. What is new in FIG. 14Aare the addition of elements and features that address additional issuesassociated with the operation of an IEAD 100.

One feature included in the circuitry of FIG. 14A, which is describedbriefly above in connection with the description of FIG. 10, is that theboost converter circuit U1 is modulated ON and OFF using digital controlgenerated within the boost converter circuit U1 itself. In accordancewith this variation, the boost converter circuit 200 shuts itself downwhenever the battery voltage falls below a predetermined level abovethat required by the remaining circuitry. For example, in the embodimentshown in FIG. 14A, the boost converter circuit U1 is realized using aMAX8570 boost converter IC, commercially available from Maxim, orequivalents thereof. This particular boost converter IC shuts down whenthe applied voltage, V_(BAT), falls below 2.5 V. Advantageously, abattery voltage of 2.5 volts is still a high enough voltage to ensurethe microcontroller IC U2, and other circuitry associated with theoperation of the IEAD 100, remain operational.

Thus, in operation, as soon as the battery voltage drops below 2.5volts, the boost converter circuit U1 shuts down, thereby limiting theinstantaneous current drawn from the battery. When the boost converterU1 shuts down, the instantaneous battery current drawn from the batteryis immediately reduced a significant amount, thereby causing the batteryvoltage V_(BAT) to increase.

As the battery voltage V_(BAT) increases, the boost converter circuit U1remains shut down until the microcontroller U2 determines that it istime to turn the boost converter back ON. This turn ON typically occursin one of two ways: (1) just prior to the delivery of the next stimuluspulse, a turn ON signal may be applied to the Shutdown (“SD”) terminal,signal line 243, of the boost converter circuit U1; or (2) as soon asthe battery voltage, V_(BAT), has increased a sufficient amount, assensed at the feedback terminal FB of the boost converter circuit U1,the circuits within the boost converter circuit U1 are automaticallyturned back ON, allowing the output voltage V_(OUT) to build up to avoltage level needed by the switch circuit U5 and the current sourcecircuit U3 to generate an output stimulus pulse of the desired amplitudewhen the next PULSE signal is applied to the IN terminal of the switchU5 by the microcontroller U2.

Once turned ON, the boost converter remains ON until, again, the inputvoltage drops below 2.5 volts. This pattern continues, with the boostconverter being ON for a short time, and OFF for a much longer time(typically, the duty cycle associated with this ON/OFF operation of theboost converter circuit U1 is no greater than about 0.01), therebycontrolling and limiting the amount of current that is drawn from thebattery. This ON/OFF action of U1 assures that the battery voltage,V_(BAT), always remains sufficiently high to permit operation of all thecritical circuits of the IEAD 100 (principally the circuits of themicrocontroller U2), except the boost converter circuit U1.

In a preferred implementation, the microcontroller circuit U2 used inFIG. 14A comprises an MSP43002452IRSA 16 microcontroller, commerciallyavailable from Texas Instruments, or equivalent microcontroller Thecurrent source circuit U3 comprises a LT3092 programmable current sourcecommercially available form Linear Technology, or equivalents thereof.The sensor circuit U4 comprises an AS-M15SA-R magnetic sensor,commercially available from Murata, or equivalents thereof. And, theswitch circuit U5 comprises an ADG1419BCPZ single pole double throwanalog switch commercially available from Analog Devices, or equivalentsthereof.

Another feature or enhancement provided by the circuit implementationdepicted in FIG. 14A relates to removing, or at least minimizing, someundesirable leading edge transients that are seen in the output stimuluspulses generated by the circuitry of FIG. 14A. The solution to remove ormitigate the occurrence of such leading edge transients is to insert anN-MOSFET transistor switch Q1 at the input terminal, IN, of theprogrammable current source circuit U3. This switch Q1 acts as a“cascode” stage that maintains a more constant voltage across thecurrent source U3 as the output current and/or load resistance changes.The gate (G) terminal of the switch Q1 is driven by the battery voltage,V_(BAT), which means the voltage at the source terminal (S) of switchQ1, which is connected to the IN terminal of the current source U3, islimited to roughly V_(BAT)-V_(GS), where V_(GS) is the threshold voltageacross the gate(G)-source(S) terminals of Q1.

Use of this N-MOSFET switch Q1 as depicted in FIG. 14A advantageouslyreduces the transient leading edge of the stimulus pulse because thecapacitance looking into Q1 is much less than is seen when looking intothe current source circuit U3 because of the Miller effect. That is,there is considerable loop gain in the operation of the U3 currentsource circuit to servo the current. This loop gain directly scales theinput capacitance so that there is a much larger leading edge spike onthe pulse. This in turn causes a 30 to 40 microsecond transient at theleading edge of the current pulse as the current source U3 recoverscurrent regulation.

An example of this leading edge transient is illustrated in the timingwaveform diagram of FIG. 14B. In FIG. 14B (as well as in FIGS. 14C, 14Dand 14E, which all show similar timing waveform diagrams), thehorizontal axis is time and the vertical axis is voltage, which(assuming a resistive load of 600 ohms) may readily be converted tocurrent, as has been done in these figures. The stimulus pulse begins ata trigger location near the left edge of the waveform, labeled TRIG. Asseen in FIG. 14B, immediately after the trigger point, which should markthe beginning or leading edge of the stimulus pulse, an initial spike251 occurs that has a magnitude on the order of twice the amplitude ofthe stimulus pulse. This spike 251 shoots down (as the waveform isoriented in the figures) and then shoots back up, and eventually, aftera delay of t1 microseconds, becomes the leading edge of the pulse. Thedelay t1 is about 30-40 microseconds, which means that the leading edgeof the stimulus pulse is delayed 30-40 microseconds. Having a leadingedge delay of this magnitude is not a desirable result.

Next, with the cascode stage (comprising the switch Q1) connected to theinput terminal, IN, of the current source U3, the stimulus pulse isagain illustrated. Because the cascode stage significantly reduces theinput capacitance looking into the drain (D) terminal of the switch Q1,the leading edge transient is significantly reduced, as illustrated inthe timing waveform diagram of FIG. 14C. As seen in FIG. 14C, theleading edge transient has all but disappeared, and the delay t1 betweenthe trigger point and the leading edge of the stimulus pulse isnegligible.

Another feature or enhancement provided by the circuitry of FIG. 14A isto address a delay that is seen when starting up the programmablecurrent source U3 at low pulse amplitudes, (e.g., less than about 3 mA).A typical current stimulus output for the IEAD is on the order of 15-25mA. When a much smaller amplitude current stimulus is used, e.g., 1.5-3mA, the control signal that defines this smaller amplitude pulse issignificantly less than the one used to define the more typical stimulusamplitudes of 15-25 mA. Such a small control signal lengthens the delay,t_(D), between the trigger point, TRIG, and the leading edge 253 of thestimulus pulse. FIG. 14D illustrates this long delay, t_(D), which is onthe order of 200 microseconds.

The address the problem illustrated in the waveform diagram of FIG. 14D,a Schottky diode D5 is connected in the circuit of FIG. 14A from anoutput port on the microcontroller circuit U2 to the input port, IN, ofthe current source circuit U3. In a preferred implementation of thecircuit of FIG. 14A, this Schottky diode D5 is realized using aBAT54XV2DKR diode, commercially available from Fairchild Semiconductor.This diode is used to warm-up or “kick start” the circuit U3 when thepulse amplitude is low so that there is less of a delay, t_(D), beforecurrent is regulated at the start of the pulse. Since the cascode stageQ1 keeps the drop across U3 low, U3 can be driven directly from themicrocontroller U2 at the start of the pulse without significantlychanging the pulse characteristics (e.g., amplitude or timing) in such away that the delay, t_(D), before current is regulated at the start ofthe pulse can be reduced.

FIG. 14E illustrates the timing waveform diagram achieved using thecircuit of FIG. 14A with the diode D5 inserted so as to allow themicrocontroller U2 to directly drive, or “kick start”, the currentsource circuit U3 at the start of the pulse. As seen in FIG. 14E, thedelay, t_(D), realized with the “kick start” has been significantlyreduced from what it was without the “kick start” (as shown in FIG.14D), e.g., from about 200 microseconds to about 40 microseconds, orless. Thus, this “kick start” feature shortens the undesired delay,t_(D), by at least a factor of about 5.

An additional feature provided by the circuitry of FIG. 14A addresses aconcern regarding EMI (electromagnetic interference). EMI can occur, forexample, during electrocautery and/or external defibrillation. Shouldany of the circuit elements used within the IEAD 100, such as the analogswitch U5, have a transient voltage exceeding approximately 0.3 V appearon its pins (which transient voltage could easily occur if the IEAD issubjected to uncontrolled EMI), then the IC could be damaged. To preventsuch possible EMI damage, the output voltage pulse, appearing on thesignal line labeled V_(PULSE), is clamped to ground through the forwardbias direction of the diode D3. In contrast, in the circuits shown inFIGS. 13A and 14, there are two zenor diodes, D2 and D3, connected backto back, to limit the voltage appearing on the V_(PULSE) line tovoltages no greater than the zenor diode voltage in either direction. Asseen in FIG. 14A, diode D2 has been replaced with a short, therebyclamping the voltage that can appear on the output voltage line—thesignal line where V_(PULSE) appears—in one polarity direction to nogreater than the forward voltage drop across the diode D3.

As is evident from the waveforms depicted in FIGS. 14B, 14C, 14D and14E, the basic current stimulus waveform is not a square wave, with a“flat top”, (or, in the case of a negative current waveform, with a“flat bottom”) as depicted in most simplified waveform diagrams (see,e.g., FIG. 15A). Rather, the current stimulus waveforms shown in FIGS.14B, 14C, 14D and 14E have what the inventors refer to as a reversetrapezoidal shape. That is, the current waveforms start at a firstvalue, at the leading edge of the pulse, and gradually ramp to a second,larger, value at the trailing edge of the pulse (i.e., the currentincreases during the pulse). For a negative-going pulse, as is shown inthese figures, the ramp slopes downward, but this corresponds to theamplitude of the pulse getting larger.

This pulse shape—a reverse trapezoidal shape—for the current stimuluspulse is by design. That is, the inventors want the current to increaseduring the pulse because such shape is believed to be more selective forthe recruitment of smaller fiber diameter tissue and nerves, and thushas the potential to be more effective in achieving its intended goal ofactivating desired tissue at the target tissue location.

The reverse trapezoidal stimulus pulse shape is illustrated in moredetail in FIG. 15, as is one manner for achieving it. Shown on the rightside of FIG. 15 is a sketch of reverse trapezoidal pulse. (Note, it isreferred to as a “reverse trapezoidal” pulse because the current, orwaveform, gets larger or increases during the pulse. This is in contrastto a conventional voltage regulated pulse, which is “trapezoidal”, butin the other direction, i.e., the current decreases during the pulse.)As seen in FIG. 15, the reverse trapezoidal pulse has a duration T1, butthe magnitude (amplitude) of the current during the pulse increases froma first value at the leading edge of the pulse to a second value at thetrailing edge of the pulse. The increase in current from the leadingedge of the pulse to the trailing edge is a value A_(P). The averageamplitude of the pulse during the pulse time T1 is a value A1, which istypically measured at a time T_(M), which is about in the middle of thepulse. That is, T_(M)=½T1.

Also shown in FIG. 15, on the left side, is the circuitry that is usedto create the reverse trapezoidal waveform. This circuitry is part ofthe circuitry shown, e.g., in FIG. 14A, and includes a capacitor C1 inparallel with a large resistor R8 (270 KΩ) connected to the “set”terminal of the programmable current source U3. The “AMPSET” signal,generated by the micro-controller circuit U2 to set the amplitude A1 ofthe current stimulus pulse to be generated, is applied to the “set”terminal of U3. When enabled by the AMPSET signal, the capacitor C1starts to charge up during the pulse at a rate of approximately 10 μA(which comes from the “set” pin of U3, i.e., from the circuitry insideof U3). For C1=0.1 microfarads, this turns out to be 100 mV/ms, or 50 mVfor a pulse having a pulse duration or width (T1) of 0.5 ms. Since thepulse current is approximately equal to V_(SET)/R5, the pulse currentwill increase by 50 mV/R5. Or, where R5 is 22 ohms, this increase incurrent turns out to be 50 mV/22=2.27 mA at the end of the 0.5 ms pulse.This increase is essentially fixed regardless of the programmed pulseamplitude.

While the circuitry described above performs the intended function ofcausing the current stimulus pulse to have a reverse trapezoidal shapein a simple and straightforward manner, it should be noted that thereare other circuits and techniques that could also be used to achievethis same result. Moreover, it would be possible to directly control theshape of the V_(SET) signal during the pulse duration in order to createany desired stimulus pulse shape.

From the above description, it is seen that an implantable IEAD 100 isprovided that uses a digital control signal to duty-cycle limit theinstantaneous current drawn from the battery by a boost converter. Threedifferent exemplary configurations (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12) are taught forachieving this desired result, and two exemplary circuit designs thatmay be used to realize this result have been disclosed (FIGS. 13A, 14and 14A). One configuration (FIG. 12) teaches the additional capabilityto delta-sigma modulate the boost converter output voltage.

Delta-sigma modulation is well described in the art. Basically, it is amethod for encoding analog signals into digital signals orhigher-resolution digital signals into lower-resolution digital signals.The conversion is done using error feedback, where the differencebetween the two signals is measured and used to improve the conversion.The low-resolution signal typically changes more quickly than thehigh-resolution signal and it can be filtered to recover the highresolution signal with little or no loss of fidelity. Delta-sigmamodulation has found increasing use in modern electronic components suchas converters, frequency synthesizers, switched-mode power supplies andmotor controllers. See, e.g., Wikipedia, Delta-sigma modulation.

II. F. Use and Operation

With the implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) 100 in hand, theIEAD 100 may be used most effectively to treat erectile dysfunction byfirst pre-setting stimulation parameters that the device will use duringa stimulation session. FIG. 15A shows a timing waveform diagramillustrating the EA stimulation parameters used by the IEAD to generateEA stimulation pulses. As seen in FIG. 15A, there are basically fourparameters associated with a stimulation session. The time T1 definesthe duration (or pulse width) of a stimulus pulse. The time T2 definesthe time between the start of one stimulus pulse and the start of thenext stimulus pulse. The time T2 thus defines the period associated withthe frequency of the stimulus pulses. The frequency of the stimulationpulses is equal to 1/T2. The ratio of T1/T2 is typically quite low,e.g., less than 0.01. The duration of a stimulation session is definedby the time period T3. The amplitude of the stimulus pulses is definedby the amplitude A1. This amplitude may be expressed in either voltageor current.

Turning next to FIG. 15B, a timing waveform diagram is shown thatillustrates the manner in which the stimulation sessions areadministered in accordance with a preferred stimulation regimen. FIG.15B shows several stimulation sessions of duration T3, and how often thestimulation sessions occur. The stimulation regimen thus includes a timeperiod T4 which sets the time period from the start of one stimulationsession to the start of the next stimulation session. T4 thus is theperiod of the stimulation session frequency, and the stimulation sessionfrequency is equal to 1/T4.

In order to allow the applied stimulation to achieve its desired effecton the body tissue at the selected target stimulation site, the periodof the stimulation session T4 may be varied when the stimulationsessions are first applied. This can be achieved by employing a simplealgorithm within the circuitry of the EA device that changes the valueof T4 in an appropriate manner. For example, at start up, the period T4may be set to a minimum value, T4(min). Then, as time goes on, the valueof T4 is gradually increased until a desired value of T4, T4(final) isreached.

By way of example, if T4(min) is 1 day, and T4(final) is 7 days, thevalue of T4 may vary as follows once the stimulation sessions begin:T4=1 day for the duration between the first and second stimulationsessions, then 2 days for the duration between the second and thirdstimulation sessions, then 4 days for the duration between the third andfourth stimulation sessions, and then finally 7 days for the durationbetween all subsequent stimulation sessions after the fourth stimulationsession.

Rather than increasing the value of T4 from a minimum value to a maximumvalue using a simple doubling algorithm, an enhancement is to use atable of session durations and intervals whereby the automatic sessioninterval can be shorter for the first week or so. For example the 1^(st)30 minute session could be delivered after 1 day. The 2^(nd) 30 minutesession could be delivered after 2 days. The 3^(rd) 30 minute sessioncould be delivered after 4 days. Finally, the 4^(th) 30 minute sessioncould be delivered for all subsequent sessions after 7 days.

If a triggered session is delivered completely, it advances the therapyschedule to the next table entry.

Another enhancement is that the initial set amplitude only takes effectif the subsequent triggered session is completely delivered. If thefirst session is aborted by a magnet application, the device reverts toa Shelf Mode. In this way, the first session is always a triggeredsession that occurs in the clinician setting.

Finally, the amplitude and place in the session table are saved innon-volatile memory when they change. This avoids a resetting of thetherapy schedule and need to reprogram the amplitude in the event of adevice reset.

An exemplary set of parameters that could be used to define astimulation regimen is as follows: T1=0.5 milliseconds, T2=500milliseconds, T3=30 minutes, T4=7 days (10,080 minutes), A1=15 volts(across 1 KΩ), or 15 milliamps (mA).

For treating erectile dysfunction, the preferred ranges for each of theabove parameters are as follows: T1=0.1 to 2.0 milliseconds (ms), T2=67to 1000 ms (15 Hz to 1 Hz), T3=20 to 60 minutes, T4=1,440 to 10,080minutes (1 day to 1 week), A1=1 to 15 mA.

It is to be emphasized that the values shown above for the stimulationregimen and ranges of stimulation parameters for use within thestimulation regimen are only exemplary. Other stimulation regimens thatcould be used, and the ranges of values that could be used for each ofthese parameters, are as defined in the claims.

It is also to be emphasized that the ranges of values presented in theclaims for the parameters used with the invention have been selectedafter many months of careful research and study, and are not arbitrary.For example, the ratio of T3/T4, which sets the duty cycle, has beencarefully selected to be very low, e.g., no more than 0.05. Maintaininga low duty cycle of this magnitude represents a significant change overwhat others have attempted in the implantable stimulator art. Not onlydoes a very low duty cycle allow the battery itself to be small (coincell size), which in turn allows the IEAD housing to be very small,which makes the IEAD ideally suited for being used without leads,thereby making it relatively easy to implant the device at the desiredstimulation site (e.g., acupoint), but it also limits the frequency andduration of stimulation sessions.

Limiting the frequency and duration of the stimulation sessions is a keyaspect of Applicant's invention because it recognizes that sometreatments, such as treating erectile dysfunction, are best done slowlyand methodically, over time, rather than quickly and harshly using largedoses of stimulation (or other treatments) aimed at forcing a rapidchange in the patient's condition. Moreover, applying treatments slowlyand methodically is more in keeping with traditional acupuncture methods(which, as indicated previously, are based on over 2500 years ofexperience). In addition, this slow and methodical conditioning isconsistent with the time scale for remodeling of the central nervoussystem needed to produce the sustained therapeutic effect. Thus, theinventors have based their treatment regimens on the slow-and-methodicalapproach, as opposed to the immediate-and-forced approach adopted bymany, if not most, prior art implantable electrical stimulators.

Once the stimulation regimen has been defined and the parametersassociated with it have been pre-set into the memory of themicro-controller circuit 220, the IEAD 100 needs to be implanted.Implantation is usually a simple procedure, and is described above inconnection, e.g., with the description of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

After implantation, the IEAD must be turned ON, and otherwisecontrolled, so that the desired stimulation regimen or stimulationparadigm may be carried out. In one preferred embodiment, control of theIEAD after implantation, as well as any time after the housing of theIEAD has been hermetically sealed, is performed as shown in the statediagram of FIG. 16. Each circle shown in FIG. 16 represents an operating“state” of the micro-controller U2 (FIG. 13A or 14). As seen in FIG. 16,the controller U2 only operates in one of six states: (1) a “SetAmplitude” state, (2) a “Shelf Mode” state, (3) a “Triggered Session”state, (4) a “Sleep” state, (5) an “OFF” state, and an (6) “AutomaticSession” state. The “Automatic Session” state is the state thatautomatically carries out the stimulation regimen using thepre-programmed parameters that define the stimulation regimen.

Shelf Mode is a low power state in which the IEAD is placed prior toshipment. After implant, commands are made through magnet application.Magnet application means an external magnet, typically a small hand-heldcylindrical magnet, is placed over the location where the IEAD has beenimplanted. With a magnet in that location, the magnetic sensor U4 sensesthe presence of the magnet and notifies the controller U2 of themagnet's presence.

From the “Shelf Mode” state, a magnet application for 10 seconds (M.10s) puts the IEAD in the “Set Amplitude” state. While in the “SetAmplitude” state, the stimulation starts running by generating pulses atzero amplitude, incrementing every five seconds until the patientindicates that a comfortable level has been reached. At that time, themagnet is removed to set the amplitude.

If the magnet is removed and the amplitude is non-zero (M^A), the devicecontinues into the “Triggered Session” so the patient receives theinitial therapy. If the magnet is removed during “Set Amplitude” whilethe amplitude is zero (M^Ā), the device returns to the Shelf Mode.

The Triggered Session ends and stimulation stops after the session time(T_(S)) has elapsed and the device enters the “Sleep” state. If a magnetis applied during a Triggered Session (M), the session aborts to the“OFF” state. If the magnet remains held on for 10 seconds (M.10 s) whilein the “OFF” state, the “Set Amplitude” state is entered with thestimulation level starting from zero amplitude as described.

If the magnet is removed (M) within 10 seconds while in the OFF state,the device enters the Sleep state. From the Sleep state, the deviceautomatically enters the Automatic Session state when the sessioninterval time has expired (T_(I)). The Automatic Session deliversstimulation for the session time (T_(S)) and the device returns to theSleep state. In this embodiment, the magnet has no effect once theAutomatic Session starts so that the full therapy session is delivered.

While in the Sleep state, if a magnet has not been applied in the last30 seconds (D) and a magnet is applied for a window between 20-25seconds and then removed (M.20:25 s), a Triggered Session is started. Ifthe magnet window is missed (i.e. magnet removed too soon or too late),the 30 second de-bounce period (D) is started. When de-bounce is active,no magnet must be detected for 30 seconds before a Triggered Session canbe initiated.

The session interval timer runs while the device is in Sleep state. Thesession interval timer is initialized when the device is woken up fromShelf Mode and is reset after each session is completely delivered. Thusabort of a triggered session by magnet application will not reset thetimer, the Triggered Session must be completely delivered.

The circuitry that sets the various states shown in FIG. 16 as afunction of externally-generated magnetic control commands, or otherexternally-generated command signals, is the micro-controller U2 (FIG.14), the processor U2 (FIG. 13A), or the control circuit 220 (FIGS. 10,11 and 12). Such processor-type circuits are programmable circuits thatoperate as directed by a program. The program is often referred to as“code”, or a sequence of steps that the processor circuit follows. The“code” can take many forms, and be written in many different languagesand formats, known to those of skill in the art. Representative “code”for the micro-controller U2 (FIG. 14) for controlling the states of theIEAD as shown in FIG. 16 is found in Appendix C, attached hereto, andincorporated by reference herein.

In the preceding description, various exemplary embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. Forexample, certain features of one embodiment described herein may becombined with or substituted for features of another embodimentdescribed herein. The description and drawings are accordingly to beregarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense and are notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teaching. Thus, while the invention(s) herein disclosed hasbeen described by means of specific embodiments and applicationsthereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto bythose skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention(s) set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD)for treating an erectile dysfunction condition of a patient throughapplication of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation pulses applied at atarget tissue location that is substantially at or near at least one ofacupoints BL52, BL23 or GV4, comprising: an IEAD housing having anelectrode configuration thereon that includes at least two electrodes,wherein at least one of the at least two electrodes comprises a centralelectrode located substantially in a center of a first surface of theIEAD housing, and wherein at least another of the at least twoelectrodes comprises a circumferential electrode located substantiallyaround and at least 5 mm distant from a center of the central electrode,wherein the first surface of the IEAD housing when implanted is adaptedto face inwardly into the patient's tissue at or near the target tissuelocation, and wherein a second surface of the IEAD housing, on anopposite side of the IEAD housing from the first surface, whenimplanted, is adapted to be closest to the patient's skin; a memorylocated within the IEAD housing and that stores a set of parameters thatdefines a stimulation regimen configured to treat the erectiledysfunction condition; and pulse generation circuitry located within theIEAD housing and electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes,wherein the pulse generation circuitry delivers EA stimulation pulsesconfigured to treat the erectile dysfunction condition to the patient'sbody tissue at or near the target tissue location in accordance with thestimulation regimen defined by the set of parameters stored in thememory, the stimulation regimen defining a duration and a rate at whicha stimulation session is applied to the patient to treat the erectiledysfunction condition, the stimulation regimen requiring that thestimulation session have a duration of T3 minutes and a rate ofoccurrence of once every T4 minutes, and wherein a ratio of T3/T4 is nogreater than 0.05.
 2. The IEAD of claim 1, wherein the central electrodecomprises an electrode array having no more than 4 segments, the centralelectrode array having a maximum linear dimension of no greater thanabout 7 mm.
 3. The IEAD of claim 2, wherein the circumferentialelectrode comprises an electrode array having no more than 4 electrodesegments positioned around the central electrode.
 4. The IEAD of claim3, wherein the circumferential electrode comprises an anode electrodeand the central electrode comprises a cathode electrode.
 5. The IEAD ofclaim 3, wherein the circumferential electrode comprises a cathodeelectrode and the central electrode comprises an anode electrode.
 6. TheIEAD of claim 1, wherein the IEAD housing is coin-shaped having adiameter no greater than about 25 mm and a thickness of no greater thanabout 2.5 mm.
 7. The IEAD of claim 1, wherein the IEAD housing is ovalshaped having a maximum linear dimension of no greater than about 25 mmand a thickness of no greater than about 2.5 mm.
 8. The IEAD of claim 1,wherein the duration of the stimulation session T3 is between 20 minutesand 60 minutes and the rate of occurrence of the stimulation session isbetween 1,440 minutes (1 day) and 10,080 minutes (1 week).
 9. The IEADof claim 1, further comprising a primary battery contained within theIEAD housing and electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuitry,the primary battery having a nominal output voltage of 3 volts, and aninternal impedance greater than 5 ohms and no more than 160 ohms. 10.The IEAD of claim 9, wherein the pulse generation circuitry includes: aboost converter circuit that boosts the nominal voltage of the primarybattery to an output voltage VOUT that is at least three times a nominalbattery voltage; a control circuit that selectively turns the boostconverter circuit OFF and ON to limit the amount of current that may bedrawn from the primary battery; and an output circuit powered by VOUTand controlled by the control circuit that generates the EA stimulationpulses as defined by the specified stimulation regimen.
 11. The IEAD ofclaim 10, wherein the EA stimulation pulses generated by the pulsegeneration circuit and delivered through the at least two electrodesinto a load at the specified target tissue location comprise voltagepulses having a voltage amplitude of no less than about 1 V and nogreater than about 20 V.
 12. The IEAD of claim 10, wherein the EAstimulation pulses generated by the pulse generation circuit anddelivered through the at least two electrodes into a load at thespecified acupoint comprise current pulses having an average currentamplitude of no less than about 1 milliampere (mA) and no greater thanabout 25 mA.
 13. The IEAD of claim 12, wherein the current pulses have acurrent value that increases during the duration of the current pulse.14. The IEAD of claim 13, wherein the current pulses increase at least 1mA during the duration of the current pulse.
 15. The IEAD of claim 9,wherein the primary battery has sufficient capacity to power the pulsegeneration circuitry in accordance with the specified stimulationregimen for a minimum of 2 years.
 16. The IEAD of claim 1, furthercomprising a sensor contained within the IEAD housing responsive tooperating commands wirelessly communicated to the IEAD from anon-implanted location, the operating commands allowing limited externalcontrol of the IEAD.
 17. The IEAD of claim 1, wherein a longest lineardimension of the IEAD housing is no greater than about 25 mm.
 18. TheIEAD of claim 1, wherein the circumferential electrode comprises a ringelectrode attached around a perimeter edge of the IEAD housing.
 19. TheIEAD of claim 1, wherein the circumferential electrode forms a completering that surrounds the central electrode.